CHILDRENS 
CRIMSON 
v  SERIES 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

GIFT  OF 

Richard  Petrie 


. 


THE  TALKING  BEASTS 


"A  squirrel  on  his  hind  legs  raised, 
Upon  a  noble  charger  gazed" 


CHILDREN'S   CRIMSON   SERIES 


THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

BY 

KATE  DOUGLAS  WIGGIN 

AND 

NORA  ARCHIBALD  SMITH 


GROSSET    &    DUNLAP 

PUBLISHERS  NEW   YORK 


ALL    RIGHTS  RESERVED,  INCLUDING    THAT    OF    TRANSLATION 
INTO    FOREIGN    LANGUAGES,  INCLUDING    THE   SCANDINAVIAN 


COPYRIGHT,   igil,  BY  DOUBLEDAY,  PAGE  &  COMPANY 


COUNTRY  LIFE  PRESS,  GARDEN  CITY,  N.  1, 


"Accept,  young  Prince,  the  moral  lay 
And  in  these  tales  mankind  survey; 
With  early  virtues  plant  your  breast 
The  specious  arts  of  vice  detest." 

JOHN  GAT 


TO 

His  HIGHNESS 
WILLIAM.  DUKE  OF  CUMBEHLAKB 


905344 


CONTENTS 

I.     Fables  of  ^Esop.  (Greek)    ...         1 
II.     Fables  of  Bidpai.     (Indian)    .      .       63 

III.  Fables     from     the     Hitopadesa. 

(Sanskrit) ,99 

IV.  Fables  from   P.    V.    Ramaswami 

Raju.     (Indian)       .     .      .     .125 

V.  Malayan  Fables 151 

VI.  Moorish  Fables  .      .      .      .      .     .  169 

VII.  African  Fables 175 

m.  Fables  from  Krilof.     (Russian)    .  211 

IX.  Fables  from  the  Chinese    .      .      .  239 

X.  Fables  of  La  Fontaine.     (French)  265 

XI.     Fables  from  the  Spanish  of  Carlos 

Yriarte 337 

XII.     Fables  of  Gay,  Cowper,  and  others. 

(English) 349 


For  Eastern  princes,  long  ago, 

These  fables,  grave  and  gay, 
Were  written  as  a  friendly  guide 

On  life's  perplexing  way. 
When  Rumour  came  to  court  and  news 

Of  such  a  book  was  heard, 
The  monarch  languished  till  he  might 

Secure  the  Golden  Word. 

Prince  of  To-day,  this  little  book 

A   store-house  is   of  treasure. 
Unlock  it  and  where'er  you  look 

Is   wisdom   without   measure. 
9  Twill  teach  thee  of  the  meed  of  greed, 

Of   sowing    versus    reaping, 
Of  that  mad  haste  that  makes  for  waste, 

And  looking  before  leaping. 

'Twill  teach  thee  what  is  like  to  hap 

To  self-conceit  and  folly; 
And  show  that  who  begins  in  sin 

Will  end  in  melancholy. 
So  take  the  book  and  learn  of  beast 

And  animate  creation 
The  lesson  that  the  least  may  teach, 

However  mean  his  station. 

NORA  ARCHIBALD  SMITH 


xiv  INTRODUCTION 

thrilling  tales  were  told  —  probably  after  the 
fashion  of  all  the  minstrels  of  his  day  —  more  than 
eight  hundred  years  before  Christ. 

On  the  background  of  that  dim  distant  long  ago, 
perhaps  two  hundred  years  later  than  Homer, 
looms  the  magnificent  figure  of  another  mysterious 
being  —  JEsop  the  Greek  slave. 

Wherever  and  whenever  he  lived,  and  whether, 
in  fact,  he  ever  lived  at  all,  he  seems  very  real  to 
us,  even  though  more  than  two  thousand  years  have 
passed.  Among  all  the  stories  that  scholars  and 
historians  have  told  of  him  —  sifting  through  the 
centuries  the  true  from  the  false  —  we  get  a  vivid 
picture  of  the  man.  He  was  born  in  Greece, 
probably  in  Phrygia,  about  620  years  before  Christ. 
He  had  more  than  one  master  and  it  was  the  last, 
ladmon,  who  gave  him  his  liberty  because  of  his 
talents  and  his  wisdom.  The  historian  Plutarch 
recounts  his  presence  at  the  court  of  Croesus, 
King  of  Lydia,  and  his  meeting  Thales  and  Solon 
there,  telling  us  also  that  he  reproved  the  wise 
Solon  for  discourtesy  toward  the  king.  Msop 
visited  Athens  and  composed  the  famous  fable 
of  Jupiter  and  the  Frogs  for  the  instruction  of 
the  citizens.  Whether  he  left  any  written  fables 
is  very  uncertain,  but  those  known  by  his  name 
were  popular  in  Athens  when  that  city  was  cele- 
brated throughout  the  world  for  its  wit  and  its 


INTRODUCTION  xv 

learning.  Both  Socrates  and  Plato  delighted 
in  them;  Socrates,  we  read,  having  amused  him- 
setf  during  the  last  days  of  his  life  with  turning 
into  verse  some  of  dEsop's  "myths"  as  he  called 
them.  Think  of  Socrates  conning  these  fables 
in  prison  jour  hundred  years  before  Christ,  and 
then  think  of  a  more  familiar  picture  in  our  own 
day  —  a  gaunt,  dark-faced,  black-haired  boy 
poring  over  a  book  as  he  lay  by  the  fireside  in  a 
little  Western  farmhouse;  for  you  remember  that 
Abraham  Lincoln's  literary  models  were  "jEsop's 
Fables,"  "The  Pilgrim's  Progress"  and  the 
Bible.  Perhaps  he  read  the  fable  of  the  Fig 
Tree,  Olive,  Vine,  and  Bramble  from  the  ninth 
chapter  of  Judges,  or  that  of  the  Thistle  and 
Cedar  from  the  fourteenth  chapter  of  II  Kings 
and  noted  that  teaching  by  story-telling  was 
still  well  in  vogue  six  hundred  years  after 
Msop. 

In  later  times  the  fables  that  had  been  carried 
from  mouth  to  mouth  for  centuries  began  to 
be  written  down:  by  Phcedrus  in  Latin  and 
Babrius  in  Greek;  also,  in  the  fourteenth  century, 
by  a  Greek  monk  named  Planudes.  But  do 
not  suppose  they  had  their  birth  or  flourished 
in  Greece  alone.  At  the  very  time  that  JEsop 
was  telling  them  at  the  court  of  Croesus,  or  in 
Delphi,  Corinth,  or  Athens, — far,  far  away  in 


xviii>  INTRODUCTION      fc     } 

of  the  .question.    All  these  points  are  interesting, 
or,  if  they  are  not  so  to  you,  you  must  say,  "Wake 
up!"   to  your  mind.     It  is  the  eager  spirit   of 
inquiry  that  conquers  difficulties  and  gains  knowl- 
<&dge?     In  another  preface  I  reminded  you  that 
in  all  the  faery  stories  the  youngest  brother  was 
the  one  who  always  said,  "I  wonder!"  and  he  it 
was  who  triumphed  over  all  the  others.     You  are 
holding  between  these  crimson  covers  fables  from 
some  of  the  oldest  and  most  valuable  books  the 
world  has  ever  known.     The  "Hitopadesa"  was 
a  very  fountain  of  riches,  as  old  as  the  hills  them- 
selves, precious   and   inexhaustible.      In  its  in- 
numerable translations  it  passed  down  the  stream 
of  time,  and  the  fables  known  as  dEsop's  made 
their  way  among  all  races  of  people  in  the  same 
marvellous  way.     No  one  knows  whether  &sop  — 
through  the  Assyrians  with  whom  the  Phrygians 
had  commercial  relations  —  borrowed  his  stories 
from  the  Orientals  or  whether  they  borrowed  from 
him.     One  thing  is  certain,  nothing  persists  so 
strongly  and  lives  so  long  as  a  fable  or  folk  tale. 
They  migrate  like  the  birds  and  make  their  way 
into  every  corner  of  the  world  where  there  are 
lips  to  speak  and  ears  to  hear.     The  reasons  are, 
perhaps,  because  they  are  generally  brief;  because 
they  are  simple;  because  they  are   trenchant  and 
witty;  because  they  are  fresh  and  captivating  and 


INTRODUCTION  xk 

have  a  bite  to  them  like  the  tang  of  salt  water; 
because  they  are  strong  and  vital,  and  what  is 
thoroughly  alive  in  the  beginning  always  lives 
longest. 

And  now  we  come  to  La  Fontaine  the  French 
fabulist,  who  in  1668  published  the  first  six  books 
of  his  fables.  "Bonhomme  La  Fontaine,"  as 
he  was  called,  chose  his  subjects  from  Msoj)  and 
Phcedrus  and  Horace,  and,  in  the  later  volumes, 
from  such  Oriental  sources  as  may  have  been 
within  his  reach.  He  rendered  the  old  tales  in 
easy-flowing  verse,  full  of  elegance  and  charm, 
find  he  composed  many  original  ones  besides. 
La  Bruyere  says  of  him:  "  Unique  in  his  way 
of  writing,  always  original  whether  he  invents  or 
translates,  he  surpasses  his  models  and  is  himself 
a  model  difficult  to  imitate.  .  .  .  He  in- 
structs while  he  sports,  persuades  men  to  virtue 
by  means  of  beasts,  and  exalts  triflina  subiects 
to  the  sublime." 

Voltaire  asserts:  "I  believe  that  of  all  authors 
La  Fontaine  is  the  most  universally  read.  He  is 
for  all  minds  and  all  ages.9' 

Later,  by  a  hundred  years,  than  La  Fontaine, 
comes  Krilof9  the  Russian  fable-maker,  who 
was  born  in  1768.  After  failing  in  many  kinds 
of  literary  work  the  young  poet  became  intimate 
with  a  certain  Prince  Sergius  Galitsin;  lived  in 


xx  INTRODUCTION 

his  house  at  Moscow,  and  accompanied  him  to 
his  country  place  in  Lithuania,  where  he  taught 
the  children  of  his  host  and  devised  entertain- 
ments for  the  elders.  He  used  often  to  spend 
hours  in  the  bazaars  and  streets  and  among  the 
common  people,  and  it  was  in  this  way  probably 
that  he  became  so  familiar  with  the  peasant  life 
of  the  country.  When  he  came  back  from  his 
wanderings  on  the  banks  of  the  Volga  he  used  to 
mount  to  the  village  belfry,  where  he  could  write 
undisturbed  by  the  gnats  and  flies,  and  the  children 
found  him  there  one  day  fast  asleep  among  the 
bells.  A  failure  at  forty,  with  the  publication  of 
his  first  fables  in  verse  he  became  famous,  and 
for  many  years  he  was  the  most  popular  writer 
in  Russia.  He  died  in  1844  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
six,  his  funeral  attended  by  such  crowds  that  the  great 
church  of  St.  Isaac  could  not  hold  those  who 
wished  to  attend  the  service.  Soon  after,  a  public 
subscription  was  raised  among  all  the  children 
of  Russia,  who  erected  a  monument  in  the  Sum- 
mer Garden  at  Moscow. 

There  the  old  man  sits  in  bronze,  as  he  used  to 
sit  at  his  window,  clad  in  his  beloved  dressing 
gown,  an  open  book  in  his  hand. 

Around  the  monument  (says  his  biographer)  a 
number  of  children  are  always  at  play,  and  the 
poet  seems  to  smile  benignly  on  them  from  his 


INTRODUCTION  xxi 

bronze  easy  chair.  Perhaps  the  Grecian  children 
of  long  ago  played  about  JEsop's  statue  in  Athens, 
for  Lysippus  the  celebrated  sculptor  designed  and 
erected  a  monument  in  his  memory. 

Read  Krilof's  "Education  of  a  Lion"  and 
"  The  Lion  and  the  Mosquitoes"  while  his  life  is 
fresh  in  your  mind.  Then  turn  to  "What 
Employment  our  Lord  Gave  to  Insects"  and  "How 
Sense  was  Distributed"  in  the  quaint  African 
fables.  Glance  at  "The  Long-tailed  Spec- 
tacled Monkey"  and  "The  Tune  that  Made  the 
Tiger  Drowsy,"  so  full  of  the  very  atmosphere  of 
India.  Then  re-read  some  old  favourite  of 
Msop  and  imagine  you  are  hearing  his  voice,  or 
that  of  some  Greek  story-teller  of  his  day,  ringing 
down  through  more  than  two  thousand  years 
of  time. 

There  is  a  deal  of  preaching  in  all  these  fables, — 
that  cannot  be  denied, —  but  it  is  concealed  as 
well  as  possible.  It  is  so  disagreeable  for  people 
to  listen  while  their  faults  and  follies,  their  foibles 
and  failings,  are  enumerated,  that  the  fable-maker 
told  his  truths  in  story  form  and  thereby  in- 
creased his  audience.  Preaching  from  the  mouths 
of  animals  is  not  nearly  so  trying  as  when  it 
comes  from  the  pulpit,  or  from  the  lips  of  your 
own  family  and  friends! 

Whether  or  not  our  Grecian  and  Indian,  African 


xxii  INTRODUCTION 

and  Russian  fable-makers  have  not  saddled  the 
animals  with  a  few  more  faults  than  they  possess 
—  just  to  bolster  up  our  pride  in  human  nature  — 
I  sometimes  wonder;  but  the  result  has  been  bene- 
ficial. The  human  rascals  and  rogues  see  them- 
selves clearly  reflected  in  the  doings  of  the  jackals, 
foxes,  and  wolves  and  may  get  some  little  distaste 
for  lying,  deceit  and  trickery. 

We  make  few  fables  now-a-days.  We  might 
say  that  it  is  a  lost  art,  but  perhaps  the  world  is  too 
old  to  be  taught  in  that  precise  way,  and  though 
the  story  writers  are  as  busy  as  ever,  the  story- 
tellers (alas!)  are  growing  fewer  and  fewer. 

If  your  ear  has  been  opened  by  faery  tales  you 
will  have  learned  already  to  listen  to  and  interpret 
a  hundred  voices  unheard  by  others.  A  com- 
prehension of  faery  language  leads  one  to  under- 
stand animal  conversation  with  perfect  ease,  so 
open  the  little  green  doors  that  lead  into  the  forest, 
the  true  Land  of  Fable.  Open  them  softly  and 
you  will  hear  the  Beasts  talk  Wisdom. 

KATE  DOUGLAS  WIGGIN 


THE  FABLES  OF  .ESOP 

"'Twas  the  Golden  Age  when  every  brute 
Had  voice  articulate,  in  speech  was  skilled, 
And  the  mid-forests  with  its  synods  filled. 
The  tongues  of  rock  and  pine-leaf  then  were  free; 
To  ship  and  sailor  then  would  speak  the  sea; 
Sparrows    with    farmers    would    shrewd    talk 

maintain; 

Earth  gave  all  fruits,  nor  asked  for  toil  again. 
Mortals  and  gods  were  wont  to  mix  as  friends  — 
To  which  conclusion  all  the  teaching  tends 
Of  sage  old  &sop. " 

BABRIUS 


THE  FABLES  OF 

The  Power  of  Fables 

DEMADES,  a  famous  Greek  orator,  was 
once  addressing  an  assembly  at  Athens 
on  a  subject  of  great  importance, 
and  in  vain  tried  to  fix  the  attention  of  his 
hearers.  They  laughed  among  themselves, 
watched  the  sports  of  the  children,  and  in  twenty 
other  ways  showed  their  want  of  interest  in 
the  subject  of  the  discourse. 

Demades,  after  a  short  pause,  spoke  as  fol- 
lows: 

"Ceres  one  day  journeyed  in  company  with 
a  Swallow  and  an  Eel."  At  this  there  was 
marked  attention  and  every  ear  strained  now 
to  catch  the  words  of  the  orator.  "The  party 
came  to  a  river,"  continued  he;  "the  Eel  swam 
across,  and  the  Swallow  flew  over."  He  then 
resumed  the  subject  of  his  harangue. 

A  great  cry,  however,  arose  from  the  people, 
"And  Ceres?  and  Ceres?"  cried  they.  "What 
did  Ceres  do?" 

"Why,   the  goddess   was,   as   she  is   now," 

* 


4  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

replied  he,  "mightily  offended  that  people 
should  have  their  ears  open  to  any  sort  of  foolery, 
and  shut  to  words  of  truth  and  wisdom. " 

The  Wolf  and  the  Lamb 

A  HUNGRY  Wolf  one  day  saw  a  Lamb  drink- 
ing at  a  stream,  and  wished  to  frame  some 
plausible  excuse  for  making  him  his  prey. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  muddling  the  water 
I  am  going  to  drink?"  fiercely  said  he  to  the 
Lamb. 

"Pray  forgive  me,"  meekly  answered  the 
Lamb;  "I  should  be  sorry  in  any  way  to  displease 
you,  but  as  the  stream  runs  from  you  toward 
me,  you  will  see  that  such  cannot  be  the  case. " 

"That's  all  very  well,"  said  the  Wolf;  "but 
you  know  you  spoke  ill  of  me  behind  my  back 
a  year  ago. " 

"Nay,  believe  me,"  replied  the  Lamb,  "I 
was  not  then  born. " 

"It  must  have  been  your  brother,  then," 
growled  the  Wolf. 

"It  cannot  have  been,  for  I  never  had  any," 
answered  the  Lamb. 

"I  know  it  was  one  of  your  lot,"  rejoined 
the  Wolf,  "so  make  no  more  such  idle  excuses." 
He  then  seized  the  poor  Lamb,  carried  him 
off  to  the  woods,  and  ate  him,  but  before 


rr  "  'WHAT  DO  YOU  MEAN  BT  MUDDLING  THE  WAI 

TO    DUI-NK?'    FIERCELY    SAID   HE   TO    THE    LAMB" 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  5 

the  poor  creature  died  he  gasped  out,  feebly, 
"Any  excuse  will  serve  a  tyrant." 

JEsop  and  His  Fellow  Servants 

A  MERCHANT,  who  was  at  one  time  ^Esop's 
master,  on  a  certain  occasion  ordered  all  things 
to  be  made  ready  for  an  intended  journey. 
When  the  burdens  were  divided  among  the  Ser- 
vants, yEsop  asked  that  he  might  have  the  light- 
est. He  was  told  to  choose  for  himself,  and  he 
took  up  the  basket  of  bread.  The  other  Servants 
laughed,  for  that  was  the  largest  and  heaviest 
of  all  the  burdens. 

When  dinner-time  came,  ^Esop,  who  had  with 
some  difficulty  sustained  his  load,  was  told  to 
distribute  an  equal  share  all  around.  He  did  so, 
and  this  lightened  his  burden  one  half,  and  when 
supper-time  arrived  he  got  rid  of  the  rest. 

For  the  remainder  of  the  journey  he  had 
nothing  but  the  empty  basket  to  carry,  and  the 
other  Servants,  whose  loads  seemed  to  get 
heavier  and  heavier  at  every  step,  could  not 
but  applaud  his  ingenuity. 

The  Kite  and  the  Pigeons 

A  KITE,  that  had  kept  sailing  around  a  dove- 
cote for  many  days  to  no  purpose,  was  at  last 


6  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

forced  by  hunger  to  have  recourse  to  stratagem. 
Approaching  the  Pigeons  in  his  gentlest  manner, 
he  described  to  them  in  an  eloquent  speech 
how  much  better  their  state  would  be  if  they 
had  a  king  with  some  firmness  about  him,  and 
how  well  such  a  ruler  would  shield  them  from 
the  attacks  of  the  Hawk  and  other  enemies. 
The  Pigeons,  deluded  by  this  show  of  reason, 
admitted  him  to  the  dovecote  as  their  king. 
They  found,  however,  that  he  thought  it  part 
of  his  kingly  prerogative  to  eat  one  of  their 
number  every  day,  and  they  soon  repented  of 
their  credulity  in  having  let  him  in. 

The  Ant  and  the  Fly 

.  AN  ANT  and  a  Fly  one  day  disputed  as  to  their 
respective  merits.  "Vile  creeping  insect!"  said 
the  Fly  to  the  Ant,  "can  you  for  a  moment  com- 
pare yourself  with  me?  I  soar  on  the  wing 
like  a  bird.  I  enter  the  palaces  of  kings,  and 
alight  on  the  heads  of  princes,  nay,  of  emperors, 
and  only  quit  them  to  adorn  the  yet  more 
attractive  brow  of  beauty.  Besides,  I  visit 
the  altars  of  the  gods.  Not  a  sacrifice  is  offered 
but  it  is  first  tasted  by  me.  Every  feast,  too, 
is  open  to  me.  I  eat  and  drink  of  the  best, 
instead  of  living  for  days  on  two  or  three  grains 
of  corn  as  you  do. " 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  7 

"All  that  is  very  fine,"  replied  the  Ant;  "but 
listen  to  me.  You  boast  of  your  feasting,  but 
you  know  that  your  diet  is  not  always  so 
choice,  and  you  are  sometimes  forced  to  eat 
what  nothing  would  induce  me  to  touch.  As 
for  alighting  on  the  heads  of  kings  and  emperors, 
you  know  very  well  that  whether  you  pitch 
on  the  head  of  an  emperor  or  of  an  ass  (and  it  is 
as  often  on  the  one  as  the  other),  you  are  shaken 
off  from  both  with  impatience.  And,  then,  the 
'altars  of  the  gods,'  indeed!  There  and  every- 
where else  you  are  looked  upon  as  nothing  but 
a  nuisance.  In  the  winter,  too,  while  I  feed 
at  my  ease  on  the  fruit  of  my  toil,  what  more 
common  than  to  see  your  friends  dying  with 
cold,  hunger,  and  fatigue?  I  lose  my  time  now 
in  talking  to  you.  Chattering  will  fill  neither 
my  bin  nor  my  cupboard. " 

The  Frog  Who  Wished  to  Be  as  Big  as  an  Ox 

AN  Ox,  grazing  in  a  meadow,  chanced  to  set 
his  foot  on  a  young  Frog  and  crushed  him  to 
death.  His  brothers  and  sisters,  who  were 
playing  near,  at  once  ran  to  tell  their  mother 
what  had  happened. 

"The  monster  that  did  it,  mother,  was  such 
a  size!"  said  they. 

The    mother,    who    was    a    vain    old    thing. 


8  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

thought  that  she  could  easily  make  herself  as 
large. 

"Was  it  as  big  as  this?"  she  asked,  blowing 
and  puffing  herself  out. 

"Oh,  much  bigger  than  that,"  replied  the 
young  Frogs. 

"As  this,  then?"  cried  she,  puffing  and  blow- 
ing again  with  all  her  might. 

"Nay,  mother,"  said  they;  "if  you  were  to 
try  till  you  burst  yourself,  you  could  never  be 
so  big." 

The  silly  old  Frog  then  tried  to  puff  herself 
out  still  more,  and  burst  herself  indeed. 

The  Cat  and  the  Mice 

A  CERTAIN  house  was  overrun  with  mice. 
A  Cat,  discovering  this,  made  her  way  into 
it  and  began  to  catch  and  eat  them  one  by 
one. 

The  Mice  being  continually  devoured,  kept 
themselves  close  in  their  holes. 

The  Cat,  no  longer  able  to  get  at  them,  per- 
ceived that  she  must  tempt  them  forth  by  some 
device.  For  this  purpose  she  jumped  upon 
a  peg,  and,  suspending  herself  from  it,  pre- 
tended to  be  dead. 

One  of  the  Mice,  peeping  stealthily  out,  saw 
her,  and  said,  "Ah,  my  good  madam,  even 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP  9 

though  you  should  turn  into  a   meal-bag,  we 
would  not  come  near  you. " 

The  Cock  and  the  Jewel 

A  BRISK  young  Cock,  scratching  for  something 
with  which  to  entertain  his  favourite  Hens, 
happened  to  turn  up  a  Jewel.  Feeling  quite 
sure  that  it  was  something  precious,  but  not 
knowing  well  what  to  do  with  it,  he  addressed 
it  with  an  air  of  affected  wisdom,  as  follows: 
"You  are  a  very  fine  thing,  no  doubt,  but  you 
are  not  at  all  to  my  taste.  For  my  part,  I 
would  rather  have  one  grain  of  dear  delicious 
barley  than  all  the  Jewels  in  the  world." 

The  Man  and  the  Lion 

A  MAN  and  a  Lion  were  discussing  the  rel- 
ative strength  of  men  and  lions  in  general,  the 
Man  contending  that  he  and  his  fellows  were 
stronger  than  lions  by  reason  of  their  greater 
intelligence. 

"Come  now  with  me,"  he  cried  to  the  beast, 
"and  I  will  soon  prove  that  I  am  right."  So 
he  took  him  into  the  public  gardens  and  showed 
him  a  statue  of  Hercules  overcoming  the  Lion 
and  tearing  him  to  pieces. 

"That  is  all  very  well,"  said  the  Lion,  "but 


10  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

it  proves  nothing,  for  it  was  a  man  who  made 
the  statue!" 

The  Discontented  Ass 

IN  THE  depth  of  winter  a  poor  Ass  once  prayed 
heartily  for  the  spring,  that  he  might  exchange 
a  cold  lodging  and  a  heartless  truss  of  straw 
for  a  little  warm  weather  and  a  mouthful  of 
fresh  grass.  In  a  short  time,  according  to  his 
wish,  the  warm  weather  and  the  fresh  grass 
came  on,  but  brought  with  them  so  much  toil 
and  business  that  he  was  soon  as  weary  of  the 
spring  as  before  of  the  winter,  and  he  now 
became  impatient  for  the  approach  of  summer. 
The  summer  arrived;  but  the  heat,  the  harvest 
work  and  other  drudgeries  and  inconveniences 
of  the  season  set  him  as  far  from  happiness  as 
before,  which  he  now  flattered  himself  would 
be  found  in  the  plenty  of  autumn.  But  here,  too, 
he  was  disappointed;  for  what  with  the  carrying 
of  apples,  roots,  fuel  for  the  winter,  and  other 
provisions,  he  was  in  autumn  more  fatigued 
than  ever. 

Having  thus  trod  around  the  circle  of  the  year, 
in  a  course  of  restless  labour,  uneasiness  and 
disappointment,  and  found  no  season,  nor 
station  of  life  without  its  business  and  its 
trouble,  he  was  forced  at  last  to  acquiesce  in 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  11 

the  comfortless  season  of  winter,  where  his 
complaint  began,  convinced  that  in  this  world 
every  situation  has  its  inconvenience. 


The  Boasting  Traveller 

A  MAN  was  one  day  entertaining  a  lot  of 
fellows  in  an  ale-house  with  an  account  of  the 
wonders  he  had  done  when  abroad  on  his  travels. 
"I  was  once  at  Rhodes,"  said  he,  "and  the 
people  of  RJiodes,  you  knoV,  are  famous  for 
jumping.  Well,  I  took  a  jump  there  that  no 
other  man  could  come  within  a  yard  of.  That's 
a  fact,  and  if  we  were  there  I  could  bring  you 
ten  men  who  would  prove  it." 

"What  need  is  there  to  go  to  Rhodes  for 
witnesses?"  asked  one  of  his  hearers;  "just 
imagine  that  you  are  there  now,  and  show  us 
your  leap!" 

The  Lion  and  the  Mouse 

A  LION,  tired  with  the  chase,  lay  sleeping  at 
full  length  under  a  shady  tree.  Some  Mice, 
scrambling  over  him  while  he  slept,  awoke 
him.  Laying  his  paw  upon  one  of  them,  he 
was  about  to  crush  him,  but  the  Mouse  im- 
plored his  mercy  in  such  moving  terms  that  he 
let  him  go. 


12  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Now  it  happened  that  sometime  afterward  the 
Lion  was  caught  in  a  net  laid  by  some  hunters, 
and,  unable  to  free  himself,  made  the  forest 
resound  with  his  roars.  The  Mouse,  recog- 
nizing the  voice  of  his  preserver,  ran  to  the  spot, 
and  with  his  little  sharp  teeth  gnawed  the  ropes 
asunder  and  set  the  Lion  free. 

The  Swallow  and  Other  Birds 

A  SWALLOW,  observing  a  Husbandman  em- 
ployed in  sowing  hemp,  called  the  little  Birds 
together  and  informed  them  of  what  the  farmer 
was  about.  He  told  them  that  hemp  was  the 
material  from  which  the  nets,  so  fatal  to  the 
feathered  race,  were  composed;  and  advised 
them  to  join  unanimously  in  picking  it  up  in 
order  to  prevent  the  consequences. 

The  Birds,  either  disbelieving  his  information 
or  neglecting  his  advice,  gave  themselves  no 
trouble  about  the  matter.  In  a  little  time  the 
hemp  appeared  above  the  ground,  when  the 
friendly  Swallow  again  addressed  himself  to 
them,  and  told  them  it  was  not  yet  too  late,  pro- 
vided they  would  immediately  set  about  the  work, 
before  the  seeds  had  taken  too  deep  root.  But 
as  they  still  rejected  his  advice,  he  forsook  their 
society,  repaired  for  safety  to  towns  and  cities, 
there  built  his  habitation  and  kept  his  residence. 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP  13 

One  day  as  he  was  skimming  along  the  streets 
he  happened  to  see  a  large  parcel  of  those  very 
Birds  imprisoned  in  a  cage  on  the  shoulders  of 
a  bird-catcher. 

"Unhappy  wretches,"  said  he.  "You  now 
feel  punishment  for  your  former  neglect;  but 
those  who,  having  no  foresight  of  their  own, 
despise  the  wholesome  admonition  of  their 
friends,  deserve  the  mischief  which  their  own 
obstinacy  or  negligence  brings  upon  their 
heads." 

The  Fox  and  the  Crow 

A  Fox  once  saw  a  Crow  fly  off  with  a  piece  of 
cheese  in  its  beak  and  settle  on  a  branch  of  a 
tree.  "That's  for  me,  as  I  am  a  Fox,"  said 
Master  Reynard,  and  he  walked  up  to  the  foot 
of  the  tree.  "Good-day,  Mistress  Crow,"  he 
cried.  "How  well  you  are  looking  to-day; 
how  glossy  your  feathers,  how  bright  your  eye. 
I  feel  sure  your  voice  must  surpass  that  of  other 
birds,  just  as  your  figure  does;  let  me  hear 
but  one  song  from  you  that  I  may  greet  you  as 
the  Queen  of  Birds." 

The  Crow  lifted  up  her  head  and  began  to 
caw  her  best,  but  the  moment  she  opened  her 
mouth  the  piece  of  cheese  fell  to  the  ground, 
only  to  be  snapped  up  by  Master  Fox.  "That 
will  do,"  said  he.  "That  was  all  I  wanted. 


14  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

In  exchange  for  your  cheese  I  will  give  you  a 
piece  of  advice  for  the  future  —  Do  not  trust 
flatterers!" 

The  Dog  and  His  Shadow 

A  DOG,  bearing  in  his  mouth  a  piece  of  meat 
that  he  had  stolen,  was  once  crossing  a  smooth 
stream  by  means  of  a  plank.  Looking  into  the 
still,  clear  water,  he  saw  what  he  took  to  be 
another  dog  as  big  as  himself,  carrying  another 
piece  of  meat. 

Snapping  greedily  to  get  this  as  well,  he  let 
go  the  meat  that  he  already  had,  and  it  fell 
to  the  bottom  of  the  stream. 

The  Ass  and  His  Master 

A  DILIGENT  Ass,  already  loaded  beyond  his 
strength  by  a  severe  Master  whom  he  had  long 
served,  and  who  kept  him  on  very  short  com- 
mons, happened  one  day  in  his  old  age  to  be 
oppressed  with  a  more  than  ordinary  burden  of 
earthenware.  His  strength  being  much  impaired, 
and  the  road  steep  and  uneven,  he  unfortu- 
nately made  a  misstep,  and,  unable  to  recover 
himself,  fell  down  and  broke  all  the  vessels 
to  pieces.  His  Master,  transported  with  rage, 
began  to  beat  him  most  unmercifully,  against 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  15 

whom  the'poor  Ass,  lifting  up  his  head  as  he  lay 
on  the  ground,  thus  strongly  remonstrated: 

"Unfeeling  wretch!  To  thine  own  avaricious 
cruelty  in  first  pinching  me  on  food,  and  then 
loading  me  beyond  my  strength,  thou  owest 
the  misfortune  which  thou  so  unjustly  iniputest 
to  me." 

The  Wolf  and  the  Crane 

A  WOLF  once  devoured  his  prey  so  ravenously 
that  a  bone  stuck  in  his  throat,  giving  him 
great  pain.  He  ran  howling  up  and  down  in 
his  suffering  and  offered  to  reward  handsomely 
any  one  who  would  pull  the  bone  out. 

A  Crane,  moved  by  pity  as  well  as  by  the 
prospect  of  the  money,  undertook  the  dangerous 
task,  and  having  removed  the  bone,  asked  for 
the  promised  reward. 

"Reward!"  cried  the  Wolf;  "pray,  you 
greedy  fellow,  what  greater  reward  can  you 
possibly  require?  You  have  had  your  head 
in  my  mouth,  and  instead  of  biting  it  off  I  have 
let  you  pull  it  out  unharmed.  Get  away  with 
you,  and  don't  come  again  within  reach  of 
my  paw." 

The  Hares  and  the  Frogs 

THE  HARES  once  took  serious  counsel  among 
themselves  whether  death  itself  would  not  be 


16  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

preferable  to  their  miserable  condition.  "  What 
a  sad  state  is  ours,"  they  said,  "never  to  eat 
in  comfort,  to  sleep  ever  in  fear,  to  be  startled 
by  a  shadow,  and  to  fly  with  beating  heart 
at  the  rustling  of  the  leaves.  Better  death 
by  far,"  and  off  they  went  accordingly  to  drown 
themselves  in  a  neighbouring  lake. 

Some  scores  *>f  Frogs,  who  were  enjoying 
the  moonlight  on  the  bank,  scared  at  the  ap- 
proach of  the  Hares,  jumped  into  the  water. 
The  splash  awoke  fresh  fears  in  the  breasts  of 
the  timid  Hares,  and  they  came  to  a  full  stop 
in  their  flight. 

Seeing  this,  one  wise  old  fellow  among  them 
cried:  "Hold,  brothers!  It  seems  that,  weak 
and  fearful  as  we  are,  beings  exist  that  are  more 
weak  and  fearful  still.  Why,  then,  should  we 
seek  to  die?  Let  us  rather  make  the  best  of 
our  ills  and  learn  to  bear  them  as  we  should." 

The  Invalid  Lion 

A  LION,  who  had  grown  too  old  and  feeble 
to  go  out  and  hunt  for  prey,  could  hardly  find 
enough  food  to  keep  him  from  starving.  But 
at  last  he  thought  of  a  plan  for  bringing  the  game 
within  his  reach. 

He  kept  quite  still  in  his  den  and  made  believe 
that  he  was  very  ill.  When  the  other  animals 


THE  FABLES  OF  2ESOP  17 

heard  of  his  distress,  they  came,  one  by  one, 
to  look  at  him  and  ask  him  how  he  felt.  No 
sooner  were  they  within  his  reach,  however, 
than  he  seized  upon  them  and  ate  them  up. 

After  a  good  many  beasts  had  lost  their  lives 
in  this  way  a  Fox  came  along. 

"How  do  you  feel  to-day,  friend  Lion?"  he 
asked,  taking  care  to  stand  at  a  safe  distance 
from  the  den. 

"I  am  very  ill,"  answered  the  Lion.  "Won't 
you  come  inside  a  little  while?  It  does  me  a 
great  deal  of  good  to  see  my  kind  friends." 

"Thank  you,"  said  the  Fox;  "but  I  notice 
that  all  the  tracks  point  toward  your  den  and 
none  point  away  from  it,"  and  so  saying,  he 
trotted  merrily  away. 

The  Travellers  and  the  Bear 

Two  Men,  about  to  journey  through  a  forest, 
agreed  to  stand  by  each  other  in  any  dangers 
that  might  befall.  They  had  not  gone  far 
before  a  savage  Bear  rushed  out  from  a  thicket 
and  stood  in  their  path. 

One  of  the  Travellers,  a  light,  nimble  fellow, 
climbed  up  into  a  tree.  The  other  fell  flat 
on  his  face  and  held  his  breath. 

The  Bear  came  up  and  smelled  at  him,  and, 
taking  him  for  dead,  went  off  again  into  the 


18  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

wood.  The  man  in  the  tree  then  came  down, 
and,  rejoining  his  companion,  asked  him,  with 
a  mischievous  smile,  what  was  the  wonderful 
secret  that  the  Bear  had  whispered  into  his  ear. 
"Why,"  replied  the  other  sulkily,  "he  told 
me  to  take  care  for  the  future  and  not  to  put 
any  confidence  in  such  cowardly  rascals  as 
you  are!" 

The  Fox  Without  a  Tail 

A  Fox  was  once  caught  in  a  trap  by  his  tail, 
and  in  order  to  get  away  was  forced  to  leave  it 
behind  him.  Knowing  that  without  a  tail  he 
would  be  a  laughing-stock  for  all  his  fellows,  he 
resolved  to  try  to  induce  them  to  part  with 
theirs.  At  the  next  assembly  of  Foxes,  there- 
fore, he  made  a  speech  on  the  unprofitableness 
of  tails  in  general,  and  the  inconvenience  of  a 
Fox's  tail  in  particular,  adding  that  he  had  never 
felt  so  easy  as  since  he  had  given  up  his  own. 

When  he  had  sat  down,  a  sly  old  fellow  rose, 
and  waving  his  long  brush  with  a  graceful 
air,  said,  with  a  sneer,  that  if,  like  the  last 
speaker,  he  had  been  so  unfortunate  as  to  lose 
his  tail,  nothing  further  would  have  been  needed 
to  convince  him;  but  till  such  an  accident 
should  happen,  he  should  certainly  vote  in 
favour  of  tails. 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  19 

The  Crab  and  Its  Mother 

ONE  fine  day  two  Crabs  came  out  from  their 
home  to  take  a  stroll  on  the  sand.  "  Child,"  said 
the  mother,  "you  are  walking  very  ungracefully. 
You  should  accustom  yourself  to  walking  straight 
forward  without  twisting  from  side  to  side." 

"Pray,  mother,"  said  the  young  one,  "do  but 
set  the  example  yourself,  and  I  will  follow  you!" 

The  Jackdaw  with  Borrowed  Plumes 

A  JACKDAW,  having  dressed  himself  in  feathers 
which  had  fallen  from  some  Peacocks,  strutted 
about  in  the  company  of  those  birds  and  tried 
to  pass  himself  off  as  one  of  them. 

They  soon  found  him  out,  however,  and 
pulled  their  plumes  from  him  so  roughly,  and 
in  other  ways  so  battered  him,  that  he  would 
have  been  glad  to  rejoin  his  humble  fellow^, 
but  they,  in  their  turn,  would  have  nothing  to 
do  with  him,  and  driving  him  from  their  society, 
told  him  to  remember  that  it  is  not  only  fine 
feathers  that  make  fine  birds. 

The  Farmer  and  His  Dog 

A  FARMER  who  had  just  stepped  into  the 
field  to  close  a  gap  in  one  of  his  fences  found 


20  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

on  his  return  the  cradle,  where  he  had  left  his 
only  child  asleep,  turned  upside  down,  the 
clothes  all  torn  and  bloody,  and  his  Dog  lying 
near  it  besmeared  also  with  blood.  Con- 
vinced at  once  that  the  creature  had  destroyed 
his  child,  he  instantly  dashed  out  its  brains 
with  the  hatchet  in  his  hand;  when,  turning 
up  the  cradle,  he  found  the  child  unhurt  and  an 
enormous  serpent  lying  dead  on  the  floor,  killed 
by  the  faithful  Dog,  whose  courage  and  fidelity 
in  preserving  the  life  of  his  son  deserved  another 
kind  of  reward. 

These  affecting  circumstances  afforded  him  a 
striking  lesson  upon  how  dangerous  it  is  hastily  to 
give  way  to  the  blind  impulse  of  a  sudden  passion. 

The  Fox  and  the  Countryman 

A  Fox,  having  been  hunted  hard  and  chased 
a  long  way,  saw  a  Countryman  at  work  in  a 
wood  and  begged  his  assistance  to  some  hiding- 
place.  The  man  said  he  might  go  into  his 
cottage,  which  was  close  by. 

He  was  no  sooner  in  than  the  huntsmen  came 
up.  "Have  you  seen  a  Fox  pass  this  way? "  said 
they.  The  Countryman  said  "No,"  but  pointed 
at  the  same  time  toward  the  place  where  the 
Fox  lay.  The  huntsmen  did  not  take  the  hint, 
however,  and  made  off  again  at  full  speed. 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  21 

The  Fox,  who  had  seen  all  that  took  place 
through  a  chink  in  the  wall,  thereupon  came 
out  and  was  walking  away  without  a  word. 

"Why,  how  now!"  said  the  Countryman, 
"haven't  you  the  manners  to  thank  your  host 
before  you  go?" 

"Nay,  nay,"  said  the  Fox;  "if  you  had  been 
as  honest  with  your  finger  as  you  were  with 
your  tongue,  I  shouldn't  have  gone  without 
saying  good-bye." 

Belling  the  Cat 

A  CERTAIN  Cat  that  lived  in  a  large  country 
house  was  so  vigilant  and  active  in  the  per- 
formance of  her  duties  that  the  Mice,  finding 
their  numbers  grievously  thinned,  held  a  council 
with  closed  doors  to  consider  what  they  had 
best  do. 

Many  plans  had  been  started  and  dismissed, 
when  a  young  Mouse,  rising  and  catching  the 
eye  of  the  President,  said  that  he  had  a  proposal 
to  make  that  he  was  sure  must  meet  with  the 
approval  of  all.  "If,"  said  he,  "the  Cat  should 
wear  around  her  neck  a  little  bell,  every  step 
she  took  would  make  it  tinkle;  then,  ever  fore- 
warned of  her  approach,  we  should  have  time 
to  reach  our  holes.  By  this  simple  means  we 
should  live  in  safety  and  defy  her  power." 


23  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  speaker  resumed  his  seat  with  a  compla- 
cent air,  and  a  murmur  of  applause  arose  from 
the  audience. 

An  old  gray  Mouse,  with  a  merry  twinkle 
in  his  eye,  now  got  up  and  said  that  the  plan 
of  the  last  speaker  was  an  admirable  one,  but 
he  feared  it  had  one  drawback.  He  had  not 
told  them  who  should  put  the  bell  around  the 
Cat's  neck! 

The  Old  Woman  and  Her  Maids 

A  CERTAIN  Old  Woman  had  several  Maids, 
whom  she  used  to  call  to  their  work  every  morn- 
ing at  the  crowing  of  the  Cock. 

The  Maids,  finding  it  grievous  to  have  their 
sweet  sleep  disturbed  so  early,  killed  the  Cock, 
thinking  that  when  he  was  quiet  they  might 
enjoy  their  warm  beds  a  little  longer. 

The  Old  Woman,  however,  vexed  at  the  loss 
of  the  Cock,  and  suspecting  them  to  be  con- 
cerned in  his  death,  from  that  time  made  them 
rise  soon  after  midnight! 

The  Dog  in  the  Manger 

THERE  was  once  a  Dog  who  lay  all  day  long 
in  a  manger  where  there  was  plenty  of  hay. 
It  happened  one  day  that  a  Horse,  a  Cow,  a 
Sheep,  and  a  Goat  came  one  by  one  and  wanted 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP  23 

to  eat  the  hay.  The  Dog  growled  at  them  and 
would  not  let  them  have  so  much  as  a  mouthful. 
Then  an  Ox  came  and  looked  in,  but  the  Dog 
growled  at  him  also. 

"You  selfish  fellow,"  said  the  Ox;  "you  can- 
not eat  the  hay.  Why  do  you  want  to  keep 
it  all  to  yourself?" 

The  Old  Man  and  His  Sons 

AN  OLD  Man  had  many  Sons,  who  were 
always  falling  out  with  one  another.  He  had 
often  exhorted  them  to  live  together  in  harmony, 
but  without  result. 

One  day  he  called  them  around  him  and,  pro- 
ducing a  bundle  of  sticks,  bade  them  each  in 
turn  to  break  it  across.  Each  put  forth  all  his 
strength,  but  the  bundle  still  resisted  their  efforts. 

Then,  cutting  the  cord  which  bound  the  sticks 
together,  he  told  his  Sons  to  break  them  sepa- 
rately. This  was  done  with  the  greatest  ease. 

"See,  my  Sons,"  exclaimed  he,  "the  power 
of  unity!  Bound  together  by  brotherly  love, 
you  may  defy  almost  every  mortal  ill;  divided, 
you  will  fall  a  prey  to  your  enemies." 

Hercules  and  the  Wagoner 

As  A  Wagoner  was  driving  his  wain  through 
a  miry  lane,  the  wheels  stuck  fast  in  the  clay 


24  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

and  the  Horses  could  get  on  no  farther.  The 
Man  immediately  dropped  on  his  knees  and 
began  crying  and  praying  with  all  his  might 
to  Hercules  to  come  and  help  him. 

"Lazy  fellow!'*  cried  Hercules,  "get  up  and 
stir  yourself.  Whip  your  Horses  stoutly,  and 
put  your  shoulder  to  the  wheel.  If  you  want 
my  help  then,  you  shall  have  it." 

The  Goose  with  the  Golden  Eggs 

ONE  day  a  poor  countryman  going  to  the  nest  of 
his  Goose  found  there  a  golden  egg  all  yellow  and 
glittering.  When  he  took  it  up  it  felt  as  heavy 
as  lead  and  he  was  minded  to  throw  it  away,  be- 
cause he  thought  a  trick  had  been  played  on  him. 

On  second  thoughts,  he  took  it  home,  however, 
and  soon  found  to  his  delight  that  it  was  an 
egg  of  pure  gold.  Every  morning  the  same 
thing  occurred,  and  he  soon  became  prosperous 
by  selling  his  eggs. 

As  he  grew  rich  he  grew  greedy;  and  thinking 
to  get  at  once  all  the  gold  the  Goose  could  give, 
he  killed  it  and  opened  it  only  to  find  —  nothing ! 

The  Frogs  Desiring  a  King 

THE  Frogs,  living  an  easy,  free  sort  of  life 
among  the  lakes  and  ponds,  once  prayed  Jupiter 
to  send  them  a  King. 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP  25 

Jove,  being  at  that  time  in  a  merry  mood, 
threw  them  a  Log,  saying,  as  he  did  so,  "There, 
then,  is  a  King  for  you." 

Awed  by  the  splash,  the  Frogs  watched  their 
King  in  fear  and  trembling,  till  at  last,  encour- 
aged by  his  stillness,  one  more  daring  than  the 
rest  jumped  upon  the  shoulder  of  the  monarch. 
Soon,  many  others  followed  his  example,  and 
made  merry  on  the  back  of  their  unresisting 
King.  Speedily  tiring  of  such  a  torpid  ruler, 
they  again  petitioned  Jupiter,  and  asked  him 
to  send  them  something  more  like  a  King. 

This  time  he  sent  them  a  Stork,  who  tossed 
them  about  and  gobbled  them  up  without 
mercy.  They  lost  no  time,  therefore,  in  beseech- 
ing the]  god  to  give  them  again  their  former 
state. 

"No,  no,"  replied  he,  "a  King  that  did  you 
no  harm  did  not  please  you.  Make  the  best 
of  the  one  you  have,  or  you  may  chance  to  get  a 
worse  in  his  place." 

The  Porcupine  and  the  Snakes 

7  A  PORCUPINE,  seeking  for  shelter,  desired 
some  Snakes  to  give  him  admittance  into  their 
cave.  They  accordingly  let  him  in,  but  were 
afterward  so  annoyed  by  his  sharp,  prickly  quills 
that  they  repented  of  their  easy  compliance, 


26  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

and  entreated  him  to  withdraw  and  leave  them 
their  hole  to  themselves. 

"No,  no,"  said  he,  "let  them  quit  the  place 
that  don't  like  it;  for  my  part,  I  am  very  well 
satisfied  as  I  am." 

The  Lark  and  Her  Young  Ones 

A  LARK,  who  had  Young  Ones  in  a  field  of 
grain  which  was  almost  ripe,  was  afraid  that 
the  reapers  would  come  before  her  young  brood 
was  fledged.  Every  day,  therefore,  when  she 
flew  off  to  look  for  food,  she  charged  them  to 
take  note  of  what  they  heard  in  her  absence, 
and  to  tell  her  of  it  when  she  came  home. 

One  day,  when  she  was  gone,  they  heard 
the  owner  of  the  field  say  to  his  son  that 
the  grain  seemed  ripe  enough  to  be  cut,  and 
tell  him  to  go  early  the  next  day  and  ask 
their  friends  and  neighbours  to  come  and  help 
reap  it. 

When  the  old  Lark  came  home,  the  Little 
Ones  quivered  and  chirped  around  her,  and 
told  her  what  had  happened,  begging  her  to 
take  them  away  as  fast  as  she  could.  The 
mother  bade  them  to  be  easy;  "for,"  said  she, 
**  if  he  depends  on  his  friends  and  his  neighbours, 
I  am  sure  the  grain  will  not  be  reaped  to- 
morrow." 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  27 

Next  day,  she  went  out  again,  and  left  the 
same  orders  as  before.  The  owner  came,  and 
waited.  The  sun  grew  hot,  but  nothing  was 
done,  for  not  a  soul  came.  "You  see,"  said 
the  owner  to  his  son,  "these  friends  of  ours  are 
not  to  be  depended  upon;  so  run  off  at  once  to 
your  uncles  and  cousins,  and  say  I  wish  them 
to  come  early  to-morrow  morning  and  help  us 
reap." 

This  the  Young  Ones,  in  a  great  fright,  told 
also  to  their  mother.  "Do  not  fear,  children," 
said  she;  "kindred  and  relations  are  not  always 
very  forward  in  helping  one  another;  but  keep 
your  ears  open,  and  let  me  know  what  you  hear 
to-morrow." 

The  owner  came  the  next  day,  and,  finding 
his  relations  as  backward  as  his  neighbours, 
said  to  his  son:  "Now  listen  to  me.  Get  two 
good  sickles  ready  for  to-morrow  morning, 
for  it  seems  we  must  reap  the  grain  by  our- 
selves." The  Young  Ones  told  this  to  their 
mother. 

"Then,  my  dears,"  said  she,  "it  is  time  for  us 
to  go;  for  when  a  man  undertakes  to  do  his 
work  himself,  it  is  not  so  likely  that  he  will  be 
disappointed."  She  took  them  away  at  once, 
and  the  grain  was  reaped  the  next  day  by  the 
old  man  and  his  son 


28  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Fox  and  the  Stork 

A  Fox  one  day  invited  a  Stork  to  dine  with 
him,  and,  wishing  to  be  amused  at  his  guest's 
expense,  put  the  soup  which  he  had  for  dinner 
in  a  large  flat  dish,  so  that,  while  he  himself 
could  lap  it  up  quite  well,  the  Stork  could  only 
dip  in  the  tip  of  his  long  bill. 

Some  time  after,  the  Stork,  bearing  his  treat- 
ment in  mind,  invited  the  Fox  to  take  dinner 
with  him.  He,  in  his  turn,  put  some  minced 
meat  in  a  long  and  narrow-necked  vessel,  into 
which  he  could  easily  put  his  bill,  while  Master 
Fox  was  forced  to  be  content  with  licking  what 
ran  dowrn  the  sides  of  the  vessel. 

The  Fox  then  remembered  his  old  trick,  and 
could  not  but  admit  that  the  Stork  had  well 
paid  him  off.  "I  will  not  apologize  for  the 
dinner,"  said  the  Stork,  "nor  for  the  manner 
of  serving  it,  for  one  ill  turn  deserves  another." 

The  Gnat  and  the  Bull 

A  STURDY  Bull  was  once  driven  by  the  heat  of 
the  weather  to  wade  up  to  his  knees  in  a  cool  and 
swift-running  stream.  He  had  not  been  there 
long  when  a  Gnat  that  had  been  disporting 
itself  in  the  air  pitched  upon  one  of  his  horns. 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  29 

"My  dear  fellow,"  said  the  Gnat,  with  as 
great  a  buzz  as  he  could  manage,  "pray  excuse 
the  liberty  I  take.  If  I  am  too  heavy  only  say 
so  and  I  will  go  at  once  and  rest  upon  the  poplar 
which  grows  hard  by  the  edge  of  the  stream. 

"Stay  or  go,  it  makes  no  matter  to  me," 
replied  the  Bull.  "Had  it  not  been  for  your 
buzz  I  should  not  even  have  known  you  were 
there." 

The  Deer  and  the  Lion 

ONE  warm  day  a  Deer  went  down  to  a  brook 
to  get  a  drink.  The  stream  was  smooth  and 
clear,  and  he  could  see  himself  in  the  water. 
He  looked  at  his  horns  and  was  very  proud  of 
them,  for  they  were  large  and  long  and  had 
many  branches,  but  when  he  saw  his  feet  he 
was  ashamed  to  own  them,  they  were  so  slim 
and  small. 

While  he  stood  knee-deep  in  the  water,  and 
was  thinking  only  of  his  fine  horns,  a  Lion  saw 
him  and  came  leaping  out  from  the  tall  grass 
to  get  him.  The  Deer  would  have  been  caught 
at  once  if  he  had  not  jumped  quickly  out  of  the 
brook.  He  ran  as  fast  as  he  could,  and  his  feet 
were  so  light  and  swift  that  he  soon  left  the 
Lion  far  behind.  But  by  and  by  he  had  to 
pass  through  some  woods,  and,  as  he  was  run- 


30  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

n ing,  his  horns  were  caught  in  some  vines  that 
grew  among  the  trees.  Before  he  could  get 
loose  the  Lion  was  upon  him. 

"Ah  me!"  cried  the  Deer,  "the  things  which 
pleased  me  most  will  now  cause  my  death; 
while  the  things  which  I  thought  so  mean  and 
poor  would  have  carried  me  safe  out  of  danger." 

The  Fox  and  the  Grapes 

THERE  was  a  time  when  a  Fox  would  have 
ventured  as  far  for  a  Bunch  of  Grapes  as  for  a 
shoulder  of  mutton,  and  it  was  a  Fox  of  those 
days  and  that  palate  that  stood  gaping  under  a 
vine  and  licking  his  lips  at  a  most  delicious 
Cluster  of  Grapes  that  he  had  spied  out  there. 

He  fetched  a  hundred  and  a  hundred  leaps 
at  it,  till,  at  last,  when  he  was  as  weary  as  a  dog, 
and  found  that  there  was  no  good  to  be  done: 
"Hang  'em,"  says  he,  "they  are  as  sour  as 
crabs";  and  so  away  he  went,  turning  off  the 
disappointment  with  a  jest. 

The  Farmer  and  the  Stork 

A  FARMER  placed  nets  on  his  newly  sown 
plough  lands,  and  caught  a  quantity  of  Cranes, 
which  came  to  pick  up  his  seed.  With  them 
he  trapped  a  Stork  also. 


THE  FABLES  OF  .ESOP  31 

ThqStork,  having  his  leg  fractured  by  the  net, 
earnestly  besought  the  Farmer  to  spare  his  life. 
"Pray,  save  me,  master,"  he  said,  "and  let  me 
go  free  this  once.  My  broken  limb  should  excite 
your  pity.  Besides,  I  am  no  Crane.  I  am  a  Stork, 
a  bird  of  excellent  character;  and  see  how  I  love 
and  slave  for  my  father  and  mother.  Look, 
too,  at  my  feathers,  they  are  not  the  least  like 
to  those  of  a  Crane. " 

The  Farmer  laughed  aloud,  and  said:  "It  may 
all  be  as  you  say,  I  only  know  this,  I  have  taken 
you  with  those  robbers,  the  Cranes,  and  you 
must  die  in  their  company. " 

The  Hare  and  the  Tortoise 

THE  Hare,  one  day,  laughing  at  the  Tortoise 
for  his  slowness  and  general  unwieldiness,  was 
challenged  by  the  latter  to  run  a  race.  The 
Hare,  looking  on  the  whole  affair  as  a  great 
joke,  consented,  and  the  Fox  was  selected  to 
act  as  umpire  and  hold  the  stakes. 

The  rivals  started,  and  the  Hare,  of  course, 
soon  left  the  Tortoise  far  behind.  Having  come 
midway  to  the  goal,  she  began  to  play  about, 
nibble  the  young  herbage,  and  amuse  herself 
in  many  ways.  The  day  being  warm,  she  even 
thought  she  would  take  a  little  nap  in  a  shady 
spot,  as,  if  the  Tortoise  should  pass  her  while 


S2  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

she  slept,  she  could  easily  overtake  him  again 
before  he  reached  the  end. 

The  Tortoise  meanwhile  plodded  on,  unwaver- 
ing and  unresting,  straight  toward  the  goal. 

The  Hare,  having  overslept  herself,  started 
up  from  her  nap,  and  was  surprised  to  find  that 
the  Tortoise  was  nowhere  in  sight.  Off  she 
went  at  full  speed,  but  on  reaching  the  winning- 
post  found  that  the  Tortoise  was  already  there, 
waiting  for  her  arrival ! 

The  Old  Woman  and  the  Doctor 

AN  OLD  Woman  who  had  bad  eyes  called 
in  a  clever  Doctor,  who  agreed  for  a  certain 
sum  to  cure  them.  He  was  a  very  clever 
physician,  but  he  was  also  a  very  great  rogue; 
and  when  he  called  each  day  and  bound  up  the 
Old  Woman's  eyes  he  took  advantage  of  her 
blindness  to  carry  away  with  him  some  article 
of  her  furniture.  This  went  on  until  he  pro- 
nounced his  patient  cured  and  her  room  was 
nearly  bare. 

He  claimed  his  reward,  but  the  Old  Woman 
protested  that,  so  far  from  being  cured,  her  sight 
was  worse  than  ever. 

"  We  will  soon  see  about  that,  my  good  dame, " 
said  he;  and  she  was  shortly  after  summoned 
to  appear  in  court. 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  33 

"May  it  please  Your  Honour, "  said  she  to  the 
Judge,  "before  I  called  in  this  Doctor  I  could 
gee  a  score  of  things  in  my  room  that  now,  when 
he  says  I  am  cured,  I  cannot  see  at  all. " 

This  opened  the  eyes  of  the  court  to  the  knav- 
ery of  the  Doctor,  who  was  forced  to  give  the 
Old  Woman  her  property  back  again,  and  was 
not  allowed  to  claim  a  penny  of  his  fee. 

The  Boy  and  the  Wolf 

A  MISCHIEVOUS  Lad,  who  was  set  to  mind 
some  Sheep,  often  used,  in  jest,  to  cry  "  Wolf ! 
Wolf!"  and  when  the  people  at  work  in  the 
neighbouring  fields  came  running  to  the  spot 
he  would  laugh  at  them  for  their  pains. 

One  day  the  beast  came  in  reality,  and  the 
Boy,  this  time,  called  "Wolf!  Wolf!"  in  earnest; 
but  the  men,  having  been  so  often  deceived, 
disregarded  his  cries,  and  he  and  his  Sheep 
were  left  at  the  mercy  of  the  Wolf. 

The  Blackamoor 

A  CERTAIN  Man  who  had  bought  a  Blacka- 
moor said  he  was  convinced  that  it  was  all 
nonsense  about  black  being  the  natural  colour 
of  his  skin.  "He  has  been  dirty  in  his  habits," 
said  he,  "and  neglected  by  his  former  masters. 
Bring  me  some  hot  water,  soap,  and  scrubbing- 


34  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

brushes,  and  a  little  sand,  and  we  shall  soon  see 
what  his  colour  is. " 

So  he  scrubbed,  and  his  servants  scrubbed 
till  they  were  all  tired.  They  made  no  difference 
in  the  colour  of  the  Blackamoor;  but  the  end  of 
it  all  was  that  the  poor  fellow  caught  cold 
and  died. 

The  Wolf  in  Sheep's  Clothing 

A  WOLF,  wrapping  himself  in  the  skin  of  a 
Sheep,  by  that  means  got  admission  into  a 
sheepfold,  where  he  devoured  several  of  the 
young  Lambs.  The  Shepherd,  however,  soon 
found  him  out  and  hung  him  up  to  a  tree,  still 
in  his  assumed  disguise. 

Some  other  Shepherds,  passing  that  way, 
thought  it  was  a  sheep  hanging  and  cried  to 
their  friend:  "What,  brother!  is  that  the  way 
you  serve  Sheep  in  this  part  of  the  country?" 

"No,  friends,"  cried  he,  giving  at  the  same 
time  the  carcass  a  swing  around,  so  that  they 
might  see  what  it  was;  "but  it  is  the  way  to 
serve  Wolves,  even  though  they  be  dressed  in 
Sheep's  clothing. " 

The  Two  Travellers 

As  TWO  men  were  travelling  through  a  wood, 
one  of  them  took  up  an  axe  which  he  saw  lying 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP  35 

upon  the  ground.  "Look  here,"  said  he  to  his 
companion,  "I  have  found  an  axe." 

"Don't  say,  *I  have  found  it,'"  said  the  other, 
"but  'We  have  found  it.'  As  we  are  companions, 
we  ought  to  share  it  between  us."  The  first 
would  not  agree  to  this  idea,  however. 

They  had  not  gone  far  when  they  heard  the 
owner  of  the  axe  calling  after  them  in  a  great 
passion.  "We  are  in  for  it!"  cried  he  who  had 
the  axe. 

"Nay,"  answered  the  other,  "say  Tm  in  for 
it ! ' —  not  we.  You  would  not  let  me  share  the 
prize,  and  I  am  not  going  to  share  the  danger." 

The  Fox  in  the  Well 

AN  UNLUCKY  Fox,  having  fallen  into  a  well, 
was  able,  by  dint  of  great  efforts,  just  to  keep 
his  head  above  water. 

While  he  was  struggling  there  and  sticking  his 
claws  into  the  side  of  the  Well,  a  Wolf  came 
and  looked  in.  "What!  my  dear  brother," 
cried  he,  with  affected  concern,  "can  it  really 
be  you  that  I  see  down  there?  How  cold 
you  must  feel!  How  long  have  you  been  in  the 
water?  How  came  you  to  fall  in?  I  am  so 
pained  to  see  you.  Do  tell  me  all  about  it!" 

"The  end  of  a  rope  would  be  of  more  use  to 
me  than  all  your  pity,"  answered  the  Fox. 


36  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"  Just  help  me  to  get  my  foot  on  solid  ground 
once  more,  and  you  shall  have  the  whole  story. " 

The  Hen  and  the  Fox 

A  Fox,  having  crept  into  an  outhouse,  looked 
up  and  down  for  something  to  eat,  and  at  last 
espied  a  Hen  sitting  upon  a  perch  so  high  that 
he  could  be  no  means  come  at  her.  He  there- 
fore had  recourse  to  an  old  stratagem. 

"Dear  cousin,"  saidhe  to  her,  "howdo  you  do? 
I  heard  that  you  were  ill  and  kept  at  home; 
I  could  not  rest,  therefore,  till  I  had  come  to 
see  you.  Pray  let  me  feel  your  pulse.  Indeed, 
you  do  not  look  well  at  all. " 

He  was  running  on  in  this  impudent  manner, 
when  the  Hen  answered  him  from  the  roost: 
"Truly,  dear  Reynard,  you  are  in  the  right. 
I  was  seldom  in  more  danger  than  I  am  now. 
Pray  excuse  my  coming  down;  I  am  sure  I 
should  catch  my  death. " 

The  Fox,  finding  himself  foiled  by  the  Hen's 
cleverness,  made  off  and  tried  his  luck  elsewhere. 

The  Ass  and  His  Shadow 

A  MAN,  one  hot  day,  hired  an  Ass,  with  his 
Driver,  to  carry  some  merchandise  across  a 
sandy  plain.  The  sun's  rays  were  overpowering, 
and  unable  to  advance  farther  without  a  tern- 


THE  FABLES  OF  yESOP  37 

porary  rest  he  called  upon  the  Driver  to  stop, 
and  proceeded  to  sit  down  in  the  shadow  of 
the  Ass. 

The  Driver,  however,  a  lusty  fellow,  rudely 
pushed  him  away,  and  sat  down  on  the  spot 
himself. 

"Nay,  friend,"  said  the  Driver,  "when  you 
hired  this  Ass  of  me  you  said  nothing  about  the 
shadow.  If  now  you  want  that,  too,  you  must 
pay  for  it. " 

The  Ass  in  the  Lion's  Skin 

AN  Ass,  finding  a  Lion's  skin,  put  it  on,  and 
ranged  about  the  forest.  The  beasts  fled 
in  terror,  and  he  was  delighted  at  the  success 
of  his  disguise.  Meeting  a  Fox,  he  rushed  upon 
him,  and  this  time  he  tried  to  imitate  as  well 
the  roaring  of  the  Lion. 

"Ah,"  said  the  Fox,  "if  you  had  held  your 
tongue  I  should  have  been  deceived  like  the  rest; 
but  now  you  bray  I  know  who  you  are!" 

The  Wolf  and  the  Sheep 

A  WOLF,  sorely  wounded  and  bitten  by  dogs, 
lay  sick  and  maimed  in  his  lair.  Parched  with 
thirst,  he  called  to  a  Sheep  who  was  passing 
and  asked  her  to  fetch  some  water  from  a  stream 
flowing  close  by.  "For,"  he  said,  "if  you  will 


38  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

bring  me  drink,  sister,  I  will  find  means  to  pro- 
vide myself  with  meat." 

"Yes,"  said  the  Sheep,  "but  if  I  should  bring 
you  the  draught,  you  would  doubtless  make  me 
provide  the  meat  also. " 

Jupiter's  Two  Wallets 

WHEN  Jupiter  made  Man,  he  gave  him  two 
Wallets;  one  for  his  neighbour's  faults,  the 
other  for  his  own.  He  threw  them  over  the 
Man's  shoulder,  so  that  one  hung  in  front  and 
the  other  behind. 

The  Man  kept  the  one  in  front  for  his  neigh- 
bour's faults,  and  the  one  behind  for  his  own; 
so  that,  while  the  first  was  always  under  his 
nose,  it  took  some  pains  to  see  the  latter. 

This  custom,  which  began  thus  early,  is  not 
quite  unknown  at  the  present  day. 

The  Satyr  and  the  Traveller 

A  SATYR,  ranging  in  the  forest  in  winter, 
came  across  a  Traveller,  half  starved  with  the 
cold.  He  took  pity  on  him  and  invited  him  to 
go  to  his  cave.  On  their  way  the  Man  kept 
blowing  upon  his  fingers. 

"Why  do  you  do  that?"  said  the  Satyr,  who 
had  seen  little  of  the  world. 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  39 

"To  warm  my  hands,  they  are  nearly  frozen, " 
replied  the  Man. 

Arrived  at  the  cave,  the  Satyr  poured  out  a 
mess  of  smoking  pottage  and  laid  it  before  the 
Traveller,  who  at  once  commenced  blowing  at 
it  with  all  his  might. 

"  What,  blowing  again ! "  cried  the  Satyr.  "  Is 
it  not  hot  enough?" 

"Yes,  faith,"  answered  the  Man,  "it  is  hot 
enough  in  all  conscience,  and  that  is  just  the 
reason  why  I  blow  it." 

"Be  off  with  you!"  cried  the  Satyr,  in  alarm; 
"I  will  have  no  part  with  a  man  who  can  blow 
hot  and  cold  from  the  same  mouth." 

The  Two  Travellers  and  the  Oyster 

As  TWO  men  were  walking  by  the  seaside 
at  low  water  they  saw  an  Oyster,  and  they  both 
stooped  at  the  same  time  to  pick  it  up.  Im- 
mediately, one  pushed  the  other  away,  and  a 
dispute  ensued. 

A  third  Traveller  coming  along  at  the  time, 
they  determined  to  refer  the  matter  to  him, 
as  to  which  of  the  two  had  the  better  right  to 
the  Oyster. 

While  they  were  each  telling  his  story  the 
Arbitrator  gravely  took  out  his  knife,  opened 
the  shell  and  loosened  the  Oyster. 


40  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

When  they  had  finished,  and  were  listening 
for  his  decision,  he  just  as  gravely  swallowed 
the  Oyster,  and  offered  them  the  two  halves  of 
the  shell.  "The  Court,"  said  he,  "awards 
you  each  a  Shell.  The  Oyster  will  cover  the 
costs." 

The  Young  Mouse,,  the  Cock,  and  the  Cat 

A  YOUNG  MOUSE,  on  his  return  to  his  hole 
after  leaving  it  for  the  first  time,  thus  recounted 
his  adventures  to  his  mother:  "Mother,"  said 
he,  "  quitting  this  narrow  place  where  you  have 
brought  me  up,  I  was  rambling  about  to-day 
like  a  Young  Mouse  of  spirit,  who  wished  to  see 
and  to  be  seen,  when  two  such  notable  creatures 
came  in  my  way !  One  was  so  gracious,  so  gentle 
and  benign;  the  other,  who  was  just  as  noisy 
and  forbidding,  had  on  his  head  and  under  his 
chin  pieces  of  raw  meat,  which  shook  at  every 
step  he  took;  and  then,  all  at  once,  beating 
his  sides  with  the  utmost  fury,  he  uttered  such 
a  harsh  and  piercing  cry  that  I  fled  in  terror; 
and  this,  too,  just  as  I  was  about  to  introduce 
myself  to  the  other  stranger,  who  was  covered 
with  fur  like  our  own,  only  richer  looking  and 
much  more  beautiful,  and  who  seemed  so  modest 
and  benevolent  that  it  did  my  heart  good  to  look 
at  her." 


THE  FABLES  OF  JESOP  41 

"Ah,  my  son,"  replied  the  Old  Mouse,  "learn 
while  you  live  to  distrust  appearances.  The 
first  strange  creature  was  nothing  but  a  Fowl, 
that  will  ere  long  be  killed,  and,  when  put  on  a 
dish  in  the  pantry,  we  may  make  a  delicious 
supper  of  his  bones,  while  the  other  was  a  nasty, 
sly,  and  bloodthirsty  hypocrite  of  a  Cat,  to 
whom  no  food  is  so  welcome  as  a  young  and 
juicy  Mouse  like  yourself." 

The  Wolf  and  the  Mastiff 

A.  WOLF,  who  was  almost  skin  and  bone,  so 
well  did  the  Dogs  of  the  neighbourhood  keep 
guard  over  their  masters'  property,  met,  one 
moonshiny  night,  a  sleek  Mastiff,  who  was, 
moreover,  as  strong  as  he  was  fat.  The  Wolf 
would  gladly  have  supped  off  him,  but  saw  that 
there  would  first  be  a  great  fight,  for  which, 
in  his  condition,  he  was  not  prepared;  so,  bid- 
ding the  Dog  good-evening  very  humbly,  he 
praised  his  prosperous  looks. 

"It  would  be  easy  for  you,"  replied  the 
Mastiff,  "to  get  as  fat  as  I  am  if  you  liked. 
Quit  this  forest,  where  you  and  your  fellows 
live  so  wretchedly,  and  often  die  with  hunger. 
Follow  me,  and  you  will  fare  much  better.' 

"What  shall  I  have  to  do?"  asked  the  Wolf. 

"Almost  nothing,"  answered  the  Dog;  "only 


42  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

chase  away  the  beggars  and  fawn  upon  the  folks 
of  the  house.  You  will,  in  return,  be  paid  with 
all  sorts  of  nice  things  —  bones  of  fowls  and 
pigeons  —  to  say  nothing  of  many  a  friendly  pat 
on  the  head. " 

The  Wolf,  at  the  picture  of  so  much  comfort, 
nearly  shed  tears  of  joy.  They  trotted  off  to- 
gether, but,  as  they  went  along,  the  Wolf  no- 
ticed a  bare  spot  on  the  Dog's  neck. 

"What  is  that  mark?"  said  he.  "Oh,  noth- 
ing, "  said  the  Dog. 

"How  nothing?"  urged  the  Wolf.  "Oh,  the 
merest  trifle,"  answered  the  Dog;  "the  collar 
which  I  wear  when  I  am  tied  up  is  the  cause  of 
it." 

"Tied  up!"  exclaimed  the  Wolf,  with  a  sud^ 
den  stop;  "tied  up?  Can  you  not  always  run 
where  you  please,  then?" 

"Well,  not  quite  always,"  said  the  Mastiff; 
"but  what  can  that  matter?" 

"  It  matters  so  much  to  me, "  rejoined  the  Wolf, 
"that  your  lot  shall  not  be  mine  at  any  price"; 
and,  leaping  away,  he  ran  once  more  to  his  native 
forest. 

The  Tail  of  the  Serpent 

THE  Tail  of  a  Serpent  once  rebelled  against 
the  Head,  and  said  that  it  was  a  great  shame  that 
one  end  of  any  animal  should  always  have  its 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP  43 

way,  and  drag  the  other  after  it,  whether  it  was 
willing  or  no.  It  was  in  vain  that  the  Head 
urged  that  the  Tail  had  neither  brains  nor  eyes, 
and  that  it  was  in  no  way  made  to  lead. 

Wearied  by  the  Tail's  importunity,  the  Head 
one  day  let  him  have  his  will.  The  Serpent  now 
went  backward  for  a  long  time  quite  gayly, 
until  he  came  to  the  edge  of  a  high  cliff, 
over  which  both  Head  and  Tail  went  flying, 
and  came  with  a  .heavy  thump  on  the  shore 
beneath. 

The  Head,  it  may  be  supposed,  was  never 
again  troubled  by  the  Tail  with  a  word  about 
leading. 

The  Falcon  and  the  Capon 

A  CAPON,  who  had  strong  reasons  for  think- 
ing that  the  time  of  his  sacrifice  was  near  at 
hand,  carefully  avoided  coming  into  close  quar- 
ters with  any  of  the  farm  servants  or  domestics 
of  the  estate  on  which  he  lived.  A  glimpse  that 
he  had  once  caught  of  the  kitchen,  with  its 
blazing  fire,  and  the  head  cook,  like  an  execu- 
tioner, with  a  formidable  knife  chopping  off 
the  heads  of  some  of  his  companions,  had 
been  sufficient  to  keep  him  ever  after  in  dread. 

Hence,  one  day  when  he  was  wanted  for 
roasting,  all  calling,  clucking,  and  coaxing  of 
the  cook's  assistants  were  in  vain. 


44  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"How  deaf  and  dull  you  must  be,"  said  a 
Falcon  to  the  Capon,  "not  to  hear  when  you 
are  called,  or  to  see  when  you  are  wanted !  You 
should  take  pattern  by  me.  I  never  let  my 
master  call  me  twice. " 

"Ah,'*  answered  the  Capon,  "if  Falcons  were 
called  like  Capons,  to  be  run  upon  a  spit  and 
set  before  the  kitchen  fire,  they  would  be  just 
as  slow  to  come  and  just  as  hard  of  hearing  as  I 
am  now. " 

The  Crow  and  the  Pitcher 

A  CROW,  ready  to  die  with  thirst,  flew  with 
joy  to  a  Pitcher,  hoping  to  find  some  water  in  it. 

He  found  some  there,  to  be  sure,  but  only  a 
little  drop  at  the  bottom  which  he  was  quite 
unable  to  reach. 

He  then  tried  to  overturn  the  Pitcher,  but 
it  was  too  heavy.  So  he  gathered  up  some 
pebbles,  with  which  the  ground  near  was  covered 
and,  taking  them  one  by  one  in  his  beak,  dropped 
them  into  the  Pitcher. 

By  this  means  the  water  gradually  reached  the 
top,  and  he  was  enabled  to  drink  at  his  ease. 

The  Eagle  and  the  Owl 

THE  Eagle  and  the  Owl,  after  many  quarrels, 
swore  that  they  would  be  fast  friends  forever* 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  45 

and  that  they  would  never  harm  each  other's 
children. 

"But  do  you  know  my  little  ones?"  said  the 
Owl.  "If  you  do  not,  I  fear  it  will  go  hard  with 
them  when  you  find  them." 

"Nay,  then,  I  do  not,"  replied   the  Eagle. 

"The  greater  your  loss,"  said  the  Owl; 
"They  are  the  sweetest  prettiest  things  in  the 
world.  Such  bright  eyes!  such  charming  plum- 
age! such  winning  little  ways!  You'll  know 
them  now  from  my  description. " 

A  short  time  after  the  Eagle  found  the  owlets 
in  a  hollow  tree. 

"These  hideous  little  staring  frights,  at  any 
rate,  cannot  be  neighbour  Owl's  delicious  pets," 
said  the  Eagle;  "so  I  may  make  away  with  them 
without  the  least  misgiving. " 

The  Owl,  finding  her  young  ones  gone,  loaded 
the  Eagle  with  reproaches. 

"Nay,"  answered  the  Eagle,  "blame  your- 
self rather  than  me.  If  you  paint  with  such 
flattering  colours,  it  is  not  my  fault  if  I  do  not 
recognize  your  portraits. " 

The  Buffoon  and  the  Countryman 

ON  THE  occasion  of  some  festivities  that  were 
given  by  a  Roman  nobleman,  a  Merry -Andrew 
of  a  fellow  caused  much  laughter  by  his  tricks 


46  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

upon  the  stage,  and,  more  than  all,  by  his  imi- 
tation of  the  squeaking  of  a  Pig,  which  seemed  to 
the  hearers  so  real  that  they  called  for  it  again 
and  again. 

A  Countryman,  however,  in  the  audience, 
thought  the  imitation  was  not  perfect;  and  he 
made  his  way  to  the  stage  and  said  that,  if  he 
were  permitted,  he  to-morrow  would  enter  the 
lists  and  squeak  against  the  Merry-Andrew  for 
a  wager. 

The  mob,  anticipating  great  fun,  shouted 
their  consent,  and  accordingly,  when  the  next 
day  came,  the  two  rival  jokers  were  in  their 
places. 

The  hero  of  the  previous  day  went  first,  and 
the  hearers,  more  pleased  than  ever,  fairly 
roared  with  delight. 

Then  came  the  turn  of  the  Countryman,  who 
having  a  Pig  carefully  concealed  under  his  cloak, 
so  that  no  one  would  have  suspected  its  exis- 
tence, vigorously  pinched  its  ear  with  his  thumb- 
nail, and  made  it  squeak  with  a  vengeance. 

"Not  half  as  good  — not  half  as  good!" 
cried  the  audience,  and  many  among  them  even 
began  to  hiss. 

"Fine  judges  you!"  replied  the  Countryman, 
rushing  to  the  front  of  the  stage,  drawing  the 
Pig  from  under  his  cloak,  and  holding  the 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP  47 

animal   up   on   high.     "Behold   the   performer 
that  you  condemn!" 

The  Old  Man,  His  Son,  and  the  Ass 

AN  OLD  Man  and  his  Little  Boy  were  once 
driving  an  Ass  before  them  to  the  next  market- 
town,  where  it  was  to  be  sold. 

"Have  you  no  more  wit,"  said  a  passerby, 
"than  for  you  and  your  Son  to  trudge  on  foot 
and  let  your  Ass  go  light?"  So  the  Man  put 
his  Boy  on  the  Ass,  and  they  went  on  again. 

"You  lazy  young  rascal!"  cried  the  next  per- 
son they  met;  "are  you  not  ashamed  to  ride  and 
let  your  poor  old  Father  go  on  foot?  "  The  Man 
then  lifted  off  the  Boy  and  got  up  himself. 

Two  women  passed  soon  after,  and  one 
said  to  the  other,  "Look  .at  that  selfish  old 
fellow,  riding  along  while  his  little  Son  follows 
after  on  foot!"  The  Old  Man  thereupon  took 
up  the  Boy  behind  him. 

The  next  traveller  they  met  asked  the  Old 
Man  whether  or  not  the  Ass  was  his  own.  Being 
answered  that  it  was:  "No  one  would  think  so," 
said  he,  "from  the  way  in  which  you  use  it. 
Why,  you  are  better  able  to  carry  the  poor 
animal  than  he  is  to  carry  both  of  you. " 

So  the  Old  Man  tied  the  Ass's  legs  to  a  long 
pole,  and  he  and  his  Son  shouldered  the  pole 


48  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

and  staggered  along  under  the  weight.  In 
that  fashion  they  entered  the  town,  and  their 
appearance  caused  so  much  laughter  that  the 
Old  Man,  mad  with  vexation  at  the  result  of 
his  endeavours  to  give  satisfaction  to  every- 
body, threw  the  Ass  into  the  river  a.nd  seizing 
his  Son  by  the  arm  went  his  way  home  again. 

The  Lion,  the  Bear,  the  Monkey,  and  the  Fox 

THE  Tyrant  of  the  Forest  issued  a  procla- 
mation commanding  all  his  subjects  to  repair 
immediately  to  his  royal  den. 

Among  the  rest,  the  Bear  made  his  appearance, 
but  pretending  to  be  offended  with  the  odour 
which  issued  from  the  Monarch's  apartments, 
he  was  imprudent  enough  to  hold  his  nose  in 
his  Majesty's  presence. 

This  insolence  was  so  highly  resented  that 
the  Lion  in  a  rage  laid  him  dead  at  his  feet. 

The  Monkey,  observing  what  had  passed, 
trembled  for  his  skin,  and  attempted  to  conciliate 
favour  by  the  most  abject  flattery.  He  began 
with  protesting  that,  for  his  part,  he  thought 
the  apartments  were  perfumed  with  Arabian 
spices;  and,  exclaiming  against  the  rudeness  of 
the  Bear,  admired  the  beauty  of  his  Majesty's 
paws,  so  happily  formed,  he  said,  to  correct 
the  insolence  of  clowns. 


THE  FABLES  OF  2ESOP  49 

This  adulation,  instead  of  being  received  as 
he  expected,  proved  no  less  offensive  than  the 
rudeness  of  the  Bear,  and  the  courtly  Monkey 
was  in  like  manner  extended  by  the  side  of  Sir 
Bruin. 

And  now  his  Majesty  cast  his  eye  upon  the 
Fox. 

"Well,  Reynard,"  said  he,  "and  what  scent 
do  you  discover  here?" 

"Great  Prince,"  replied  the  cautious  Fox, 
"my  nose  was  never  esteemed  my  most  dis- 
tinguishing sense;  and  at  present  I  would  by 
no  means  venture  to  give  my  opinion,  as  I 
have  unfortunately  caught  a  terrible  cold. " 

The  Wolf  and  the  Lamb 

A  FLOCK  of  Sheep  was  feeding  in  the  meadow 
while  the  Dogs  were  asleep,  and  the  Shepherd 
at  a  distance  playing  on  his  pipe  beneath  the 
shade  of  a  spreading  elm. 

A  young,  inexperienced  Lamb,  observing  a 
half-starved  Wolf  peering  through  the  pales  of 
the  fence,  began  to  talk  with  him. 

"Pray,  what  are  you  seeking  for  here?"  said 
the  Lamb. 

"I  am  looking,"  replied  the  Wolf,  "for  some 
tender  grass;  for  nothing,  you  know,  is  more 
pleasant  than  to  feed  in  a  fresh  pasture,  and  to 


50  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

slake  one's  thirst  at  a  crystal  stream,  both  which 
I  perceive  you  enjoy  within  these  pales  in  their 
utmost  perfection.  Happy  creature,"  contin- 
ued he,  "how  much  I  envy  you  who  have  every- 
thing which  I  desire,  for  philosophy  has  long 
taught  me  to  be  satisfied  with  a  little!" 

"It  seems,  then,"  returned  the  Lamb,  "those 
who  say  you  feed  on  flesh  accuse  you  falsely, 
since  a  little  grass  will  easily  content  you.  If 
this  be  true,  let  us  for  the  future  live  like  breth- 
ren, and  feed  together. "  So  saying,  the  simple 
Lamb  crept  through  the  fence,  and  at  once 
became  a  prey  to  the  pretended  philosopher, 
and  a  sacrifice  to  his  own  inexperience  and 
credulity. 

The  Chameleon 

Two  Travellers  happened  on  their  journey 
to  be  engaged  in  a  warm  dispute  about  the  col- 
our of  the  Chameleon.  One  of  them  affirmed 
that  it  was  blue  and  that  he  had  seen  it  with 
his  own  eyes  upon  the  naked  branch  of  a  tree, 
feeding  in  the  air  on  a  very  clear  day. 

The  other  strongly  asserted  it  was  green,  and 
that  he  had  viewed  it  very  closely  and  minutely 
upon  the  broad  leaf  of  a  fig-tree. 

Both  of  them  were  positive,  and  the  dispute 
was  rising  to  a  quarrel;  but  a  third  person  luckily 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^ESOP  51 

coming  by,  they  agreed  to  refer  the  question  to 
his  decision. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  the  Arbitrator,  with  a 
smile  of  great  self-satisfaction,  "you  could  not 
have  been  more  lucky  in  your  reference,  as  I 
happen  to  have  caught  one  of  them  last  night; 
but,  indeed,  you  are  both  mistaken,  for  the 
creature  is  totally  black. " 

"Black,  impossible!"  cried  both  the  dispu- 
tants!" 

"Nay,"  quoth  the  Umpire,  with  great  as- 
surance, "the  matter  may  be  soon  decided,  for 
I  immediately  inclosed  my  Chameleon  in  a  little 
paper  box,  and  here  it  is. "  So  saying,  he  drew 
it  out  of  his  pocket,  opened  his  box,  and,  lo !  it 
was  as  white  as  snow. 

The  Travellers  looked  equally  surprised  and 
equally  confounded;  while  the  sagacious  reptile, 
assuming  the  air  of  a  philosopher,  thus  admon- 
ished them:  "Ye  children  of  men,  learn  diffidence 
and  moderation  in  your  opinions.  'Tis  true, 
you  happen  in  this  present  instance  to  be  all 
in  the  right,  and  have  only  considered  the  sub- 
ject under  different  circumstances,  but,  pray,  for 
the  future  allow  others  to  have  eyesight  as 
well  as  yourselves;  nor  wonder  if  every  one 
prefers  to  accept  the  testimony  of  his  own 


52  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Eagle.,  the  Jackdaw,  and  the  Magpie 

THE  kingly  Eagle  kept  his  court  with  all  the 
formalities  of  sovereign  state,  and  was  duly 
attended  by  all  his  plumed  subjects  in  their 
highest  feathers. 

These  solemn  assemblies,  however,  were  fre- 
quently disturbed  by  the  impertinent  conduct 
of  two,  who  assumed  the  importance  of  high- 
fliers; these  were  no  other  than  the  Jackdaw  and 
the  Magpie,  who  were  forever  contending  for 
precedence  which  neither  of  them  would  give 
up  to  the  other. 

The  contest  ran  so  high  that  at  length  they 
mutually  agreed  to  appeal  to  the  sovereign 
Eagle  for  his  decision  in  this  momentous  affair. 

The  Eagle  gravely  answered  that  he  did  not 
wish  to  make  an  invidious  distinction  by  de- 
ciding to  the  advantage  of  either  party,  but  would 
give  them  a  rule  by  which  they  might  deter- 
mine between  themselves;  "for,"  added  he,  "the 
greater  fool  of  the  two  shall  in  future  always 
take  precedence,  but  which  of  you  it  may  be, 
yourselves  must  settle. " 

The  Boy  and  the  Filberts 

A  BOY  once  thrust  his  hand  into  a  pitcher 
which  was  full  of  figs  and  filberts. 


THE  FABLES  OF  ,ESOP  53 

He  grasped  as  many  as  his  fist  could  possibly 
hold,  but  when  he  tried  to  draw  it  out  the 
narrowness  of  the  neck  prevented  him. 

Not  liking  to  lose  any  of  them,  but  unwilling 
to  draw  out  his  hand,  he  burst  into  tears  and 
bitterly  bemoaned  his  hard  fortune. 

An  honest  fellow  who  stood  by  gave  him  this 
wise  and  reasonable  advice:  "Take  only  half 
as  many,  my  boy,  and  you  will  easily  get  them. " 

The  Passenger  and  the  Pilot 

IN  A  violent  storm  at  sea,  the  whole  crew  of  a 
vessel  was  in  imminent  danger  of  shipwreck. 

After  the  rolling  of  the  waves  was  somewhat 
abated,  a  certain  Passenger,  who  had  never  been 
at  sea  before,  observing  the  Pilot  to  have 
appeared  wholly  unconcerned,  even  in  their 
greatest  danger,  had  the  curiosity  to  ask  him 
what  death  his  father  died. 

"What  death?"  said  the  Pilot,  "Why,  he 
perished  at  sea,  as  my  grandfather  did  before 
him." 

"And  are  you  not  afraid  of  trusting  yourself 
to  an  element  that  has  proved  thus  fatal  to 
your  family?" 

"Afraid?  By  no  means;  why,  we  must  all  die; 
is  not  your  father  dead?" 

"Yes,  but  he  died  in  his  bed." 


54  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"And  why,  then,  are  you  not  afraid  of  trust- 
ing yourself  to  your  bed?" 

"Because  I  am  perfectly  secure  there." 
"It  may  be  so,"  replied  the  Pilot;  "but  if  the 
hand  of  Providence  is  equally  extended  over  all 
places,  there  is  no  more  reason  for  me  to  be 
afraid  of  going  to  sea  than  for  you  to  be  afraid 
of  going  to  bed." 

The  Dog  and  the  Crocodile 

A  DOG,  running  along  the  banks  of  the 
Nile,  grew  thirsty,  but  fearing  to  be  seized 
by  the  monsters  of  that  river,  he  would  not 
stop  to  satiate  his  drought,  but  lapped  as  he 
ran. 

A  Crocodile,  raising  his  head  above  the  sur- 
face of  the  water,  asked  him  why  he  was  in 
such  a  hurry.  He  had  often,  he  said,  wished 
for  his  acquaintance,  and  should  be  glad  to 
embrace  the  present  opportunity. 

"You  do  me  great  honour,"  said  the  Dog, 
"but  it  is  to  avoid  such  companions  as  you  that 
I  am  in  so  much  haste!" 

A  Matter  of  Arbitration 

Two  Cats,  having  stolen  some  cheese,  could 
not  agree  about  dividing  the  prize.  In  order, 


THE  FABLES  OF  JSSOP  55 

therefore,  to  settle  the  dispute,  they  consented 
to  refer  the  matter  to  a  Monkey. 

The  proposed  Arbitrator  very  readily  ac- 
cepted the  office,  and,  producing  a  balance, 
put  a  part  into  each  scale.  "Let  me  see,'* 
said  he,  "aye  —  this  lump  outweighs  the  other"; 
and  immediately  bit  off  a  considerable  piece 
in  order  to  reduce  it,  he  observed,  to  an  equi- 
librium. The  opposite  scale  was  now  heavier, 
which  afforded  our  conscientious  judge  a  reason 
for  a  second  mouthful. 

"Hold,  hold,"  said  the  two  Cats,  who  began 
to  be  alarmed  for  the  event,  "give  us  our  shares 
and  we  are  satisfied."  "If  you  are  satisfied," 
returned  the  Monkey,  "justice  is  not;  a  cause 
of  this  intricate  nature  is  by  no  means  so  soon 
determined."  Upon  which  he  continued  to 
nibble  first  one  piece  then  the  other,  till  the  poor 
Cats,  seeing  their  cheese  rapidly  diminishing, 
entreated  to  give  himself  no  further  trouble, 
but  to  deliver  to  them  what  remained. 

"Not  so  fast,  I  beseech  ye,  friends,"  replied 
the  Monkey;  "we  owe  justice  to  ourselves  as 
well  as  to  you.  What  remains  is  due  to  me  in 
right  of  my  office. " 

Thus  saying,  he  crammed  the  whole  into  his 
mouth,  and  with  great  gravity  dismissed  the 
court. 


56  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Crow  and  the  Mussel 

A  CROW  having  found  a  Mussel  on  the  sea- 
shore; took  it  in  his  beak  and  tried  for  a  long  time 
to  break  the  shell  by  hammering  it  upon  a  stone. 

Another  Crow  —  a  sly  old  fellow  —  came 
and  watched  him  for  some  time  in  silence. 

"Friend,"  said  he  at  last,  "you'll  never  break 
it  in  that  way.  Listen  to  me.  This  is  the  way 
to  do  it:  Fly  up  as  high  as  you  can,  and  let 
the  tiresome  thing  fall  upon  a  rock.  It  will  be 
smashed  then  sure  [enough,  and  you  can  eat  it 
at  your  leisure." 

The  simple-minded  and  unsuspecting  Crow 
did  as  he  was  told,  flew  up  and  let  the  Mussel 
fall. 

Before  he  could  descend  to  eat  it,  however, 
the  other  bird  had  pounced  upon  it  and  carried 
it  away. 

The  Ass  and  His  Purchaser 

A  MAN  wished  to  purchase  an  Ass,  and  agreed 
with  his  owner  that  he  should  try  him  before  he 
bought  him.  He  took  the  Ass  home,  and  put 
him  in  the  straw-yard  with  his  other  asses, 
upon  which  the  beast  left  all  the  others  and 
joined  himself  at  once  to  the  most  idle  and  the 
greatest  eater  of  them  all. 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  57 

The  Man  put  a  halter  on  him,  and  led  him 
back  to  his  owner:  and  when  he  was  asked  how, 
in  so  short  a  time,  he  could  have  made  a  trial 
of  him,  "I  do  not  need,"  he  answered,  "a  trial; 
I  know  that  he  will  be  just  such  another  as  the 
one  whom  of  all  the  rest  he  chose  for  his  com- 
panion." 

A  Country  Fellow  and  the  River 

A  STUPID  Boy,  who  was  sent  to  market  by 
the  good  old  woman,  his  Mother,  to  sell  butter 
and  cheese,  made  a  stop  by  the  way  at  a  swift 
river,  and  laid  himself  down  on  the  bank  there, 
until  it  should  run  out. 

About  midnight,  home  he  went  to  his  Mother, 
with  all  his  market  trade  back  again. 

"  Why,  how  now,  my  Son?  "  said  she.  "  What 
ill  fortune  have  you  had,  that  you  have  sold 
nothing  all  day?" 

"Why,  Mother,  yonder  is  a  river  that  has 
been  running  all  this  day,  and  I  stayed  till 
just  now,  waiting  for  it  to  run  out;  and  there 
it  is,  running  still." 

"My  Son,"  said  the  good  woman,  "thy 
head  and  mine  will  be  laid  in  the  grave  many 
a  day  before  this  river  has  all  run  by.  You 
will  never  sell  your  butter  and  cheese  if  you 
wait  for  that." 


58  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Playful  Ass 

AN  Ass  climbed  up  to  the  roof  of  a  building 
and,  frisking  about  there,  broke  in  the  tiling. 
His  Master  went  up  after  him,  and  quickly 
drove  him  down,  beating  him  severely  with  a 
thick  wooden  cudgel. 

The  Ass  then  cried  out  in  astonishment, 
"Why,  I  saw  the  monkey  do  this  veiy  thing 
yesterday,  and  you  all  laughed  heartily,  as  if 
it  afforded  you  great  amusement!  " 

The  Boys  and  the  Frogs 

SOME  idle  boys,  playing  near  a  pond,  saw  a 
number  of  Frogs  in  the  water,  and  began  to 
pelt  them  with  stones.  They  had  killed  several 
of  them,  when  one  of  the  Frogs,  lifting  his  head 
out  of  the  water,  cried  out:  "Pray  stop,  my 
Boys:  you  forget  that  what  is  sport  to  you  is 
death  to  us!" 

The  Camel  and  His  Master 

ONE  night  a  Camel  looked  into  the  tent 
where  his  Master  was  lying  and  said:  "Kind 
Master,  will  you  not  let  me  put  my  head  in- 
side of  the  door?  The  wind  blows  very  cold 
to-night." 


THE  FABLES  OF  ^SOP  59 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  the  Man.  "There  is  plenty 
of  room." 

So  the  Camel  moved  forward  and  stretched 
his  head  into  the  tent.  "Ah!"  he  said,  "this 
is  what  I  call  comfort." 

In  a  little  while  he  called  to  his  Master  again. 
"Now  if  I  could  only  warm  my  neck  also,"  he 
said. 

"Then  put  your  neck  inside,"  said  his  Master, 
kindly.  "You  will  not  be  in  my  way." 

The  Camel  did  so,  and  for  a  time  was  very 
well  contented.  Then,  looking  around,  he  said: 
"If  I  could  only  put  my  forelegs  inside  I  should 
feel  a  great  deal  better." 

His  Master  moved  a  little  and  said:  "You 
may  put  your  forelegs  and  shoulders  inside, 
for  I  know  that  the  wind  blows  cold  to-night." 

The  Camel  had  hardly  planted  his  forefeet 
within  the  tent  when  he  spoke  again : 

"Master,"  he  said,  "I  keep  the  tent  open  by 
standing  here.  I  think  I  ought  to  go  wholly 
within." 

"Yes,  come  in,"  said  the  Man.  "There  is 
hardly  room  for  us  both,  but  I  do  not  want  to 
keep  you  out  in  the  cold." 

So  the  Camel  crowded  into  the  tent,  but 
he  was  no  sooner  inside  than  he  said:  "You 
were  right  when  you  said  that  there  was  hardly 


60  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

room  for  us  both.  I  think  it  would  be  better 
for  you  to  stand  outside  and  so  give  me  a  chance 
to  turn  around  and  lie  down." 

Then,  without  more  ado,  he  rudely  pushed 
the  Man  out  at  the  door,  and  took  the  whole 
tent  for  himself. 

The  Flies  and  the  Honey-pot 

A  JAR  of  Honey  having  been  upset  in  a  house* 
keeper's  room,  a  number  of  Flies  were  attracted 
by  its  sweetness,  and  placing  their  feet  in  it 
ate  it  greedily. 

Their  feet,  however,  became  so  smeared  with 
the  Honey  that  they  could  not  use  their  wings, 
nor  release  themselves,  and  so  were  suffocated. 

Just  as  they  were  expiring,  they  exclaimed, 
"O  foolish  creatures  that  we  are;  for  the  sake 
of  a  little  pleasure  we  have  destroyed  ourselves !" 

The  Spectacles 

JUPITER,  one  day,  enjoying  himself  over  a 
bowl  of  nectar,  and  in  a  merry  humour,  deter- 
mined to  make  mankind  a  present. 

Momus  was  appointed  to  convey  it,  who, 
mounted  on  a  rapid  car,  was  presently  on  earth. 
"Come  hither,"  said  he,  "ye  happy  mortals; 
great  Jupiter  has  opened  for  your  benefit  his 


THE  FABLES  OF  .ESOP  61 

all-gracious  hands.  'Tis  true  he  made  you 
somewhat  short-sighted,  but,  to  remedy  that 
inconvenience,  behold  now  he  has  favoured 

you!" 

So  saying,  he  opened  his  portmanteau,  when 
an  infinite  number  of  spectacles  tumbled  out, 
and  were  picked  up  by  the  crowd  with  all  the 
eagerness  imaginable.  There  were  enough  for 
all,  for  every  man  had  his  pair. 

But  it  was  soon  found  that  these  spectacles 
did  not  represent  objects  to  all  mankind  alike; 
for  one  pair  was  purple,  another  blue;  one  was 
white  and  another  black;  some  of  the  glasses 
were  red,  some  green,  and  some  yellow.  In 
short,  there  were  all  manner  of  colours,  and 
every  shade  of  colour.  However,  notwithstand- 
ing this  diversity,  every  man  was  charmed 
with  his  own,  as  believing  it  the  best,  and 
enjoyed  in  opinion  all  the  satisfaction  of  truth. 

The  Bear  and  the  Fowls 

A  BEAR,  who  was  bred  in  the  savage  desert, 
wished  to  see  the  world,  and  he  travelled  from 
forest  to  forest,  and  from  one  kingdom  to 
another,  making  many  profound  observations 
on  his  way. 

One  day  he  came  by  accident  into  a  farmer's 
yard,  where  he  saw  a  number  of  Fowls  standing 


62  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

to  drink  by  the  side  of  a  pool.  Observing  that 
after  every  sip  they  turned  up  their  heads 
toward  the  sky,  he  could  not  forbear  inquiring 
the  reason  of  so  peculiar  a  ceremony. 

They  told  him  that  it  was  by  way  of  returning 
thanks  to  Heaven  for  the  benefits  they  received; 
and  was  indeed  an  ancient  and  religious  custom, 
which  they  could  not,  with  a  safe  conscience, 
or  without  impiety,  omit. 

Here  the  Bear  burst  into  a  fit  of  laughter, 
at  once  mimicking  their  gestures,  and  ridiculing 
their  superstition,  in  a  most  contemptuous 
manner. 

On  this  the  Cock,  with  a  spirit  suitable  to 
the  boldness  of  his  character,  addressed  him 
in  the  following  words :  "As  you  are  a  stranger, 
sir,  you  may  perhaps  be  excused  for  the  inde- 
cency of  your  behaviour;  yet  give  me  leave  to  tell 
you  that  none  but  a  Bear  would  ridicule  any 
religious  ceremonies  in  the  presence  of  those 
who  believe  them  of  importance." 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI 

"  In  English  now  they  teach  us  wit.     In  English 

now  they  say: 
Ye  men,  come  learn  of  beasts  to  live,  to  rule 

and  to  obey, 
To  guide  you  wisely  in  the  world,  to  know 

to  shun  deceit, 

To  fly  the  crooked  paths  of  guile,    to    keep 
your  doings  straight." 

SIR  THOMAS  NORTH 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI 

The  Snake  and  the  Sparrows 

IT  IS  related  that  two  Sparrows  once  made 
their  nest  in  the  roof  of  a  house;  and,  eon- 
tenting  themselves  with  a  single  grain,  so 
lived.    Once  on  a  time  they  had  young  ones,  and 
both  the  mother  and  father  used  to  go  out  in 
search  of  food  for  their  support;  and  what  they 
procured  they  made  up  into  grains  and  dropped 
into  their  crops. 

One  day,  the  male  Sparrow  had  gone  out 
somewhere.  When  he  came  back  he  beheld 
the  female  Sparrow  fluttering  in  the  greatest 
distress  around  the  nest,  while  she  uttered 
piteous  cries.  He  exclaimed,  "Sweet  friend! 
what  movements  are  these  which  I  behold 
in  thee?"  She  replied,  "How  shall  I  not 
lament,  since,  when  I  returned  after  a  moment's 
absence,  I  saw  a  huge  Snake  come  and  prepare 
to  devour  my  offspring,  though  I  poured  forth 
piteous  cries.  It  was  all  in  vain,  for  the  Snake 
said,  'Thy  sigh  will  have  no  effect  on  my  dark- 
mirrored  scales/  I  replied,  'Dread  this,  that 

65 


66  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

I  and  the  father  of  these  children  will  gird  up 
the  waist  of  vengeance,  and  will  exert  ourselves 
to  the  utmost  for  thy  destruction/  The  Snake 
laughed  on  hearing  me,  and  that  cruel  oppressor 
has  devoured  my  young  and  has  also  taken 
his  rest  in  the  nest." 

When  the  male  Sparrow  heard  this  story,  his 
frame  was  wrung  with  anguish;  and  the  fire  of 
regret  for  the  loss  of  his  offspring  fell  on  his 
soul.  At  that  moment  the  master  of  the  house 
was  engaged  in  lighting  his  lamp;  and  holding 
in  his  hand  a  match,  dipped  in  grease  and 
lighted,  was  about  to  put  it  into  the  lamp- 
holder.  .  The  Sparrow  flew  and  snatched  the 
match  from  his  hand  and  threw  it  into  the  nest. 
The  master  of  the  house,  through  fear  that  the 
fire  would  catch  to  the  roof,  and  that  the 
consequences  would  be  most  pernicious,  im- 
mediately ran  up  on  the  terrace  and  began 
clearing  away  the  nest  from  beneath,  in  order 
to  put  out  the  fire.  The  Snake  beheld  in  front 
the  danger  of  the  fire,  and  heard  above  the 
sound  of  the  pickaxe.  It  put  out  its  head  from 
a  hole  which  it  had  near  the  roof,  and  no  sooner 
did  it  do  so  than  it  received  a  blow  of  death 
from  the  pickaxe. 

And  the  moral  of  this  fable  is,  that  the  Snake 
despised  its  enemy,  and  made  no  account  of 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  67 

him,  until  in  the  end  that  enemy  pounded  his 
head  with  the  stone  of  vengeance. 

The  Geese  and  the  Tortoise 

IT  is  related  that  in  a  pool  whose  pure  water 
reflected  every  image  like  a  clear  mirror,  once 
resided  two  Geese  and  a  Tortoise,  and  in  con- 
sequence of  their  being  neighbours,  the  thread 
of  their  circumstances  had  been  drawn  out  into 
sincere  friendship,  and  they  passed  their  lives 
contentedly. 

In  that  water  which  was  the  source  of  their 
life  and  the  support  of  their  existence,  however, 
a  complete  failure  began  to  manifest  itself, 
and  a  glaring  alteration  became  evident. 
When  the  Geese  perceived  that  state  of  things 
they  withdrew  their  hearts  from  the  home  to 
which  they  were  accustomed  and  determined 
on  emigrating.  Therefore  with  hearts  full  of 
sorrow  and  eyes  full  of  tears,  they  approached 
the  Tortoise,  and  introduced  the  subject  of 
parting. 

The  Tortoise  wept  at  the  intelligence  and 
piteously  exclaimed,  "What  words  are  these, 
and  how  can  existence  be  supported  without 
sympathizing  friends?  And  since  that  I  have 
not  power  even  to  take  leave,  how  can  I  endure 
the  load  of  separation?" 


68  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Geese  replied:  "Our  hearts,  too,  are 
wounded  by  the  sharp  points  of  absence,  but 
the  distress  of  being  without  water  is  impos- 
sible to  endure,  and  therefore  of  necessity  we 
are  about  to  forsake  our  friend  and  country." 

The  Tortoise  rejoined:  "O  friends!  ye  know 
that  the  distress  of  the  want  of  water  affects 
me  more,  and  that  without  water  I  cannot 
support  myself.  At  this  crisis  the  rights  of 
ancient  companionship  demand  that  ye  should 
take  me  with  you,  and  not  leave  me  alone  in 
the  sorrowful  abode  of  separation." 

The  Geese  answered:  "O  esteemed  comrade! 
the  pang  of  parting  from  thee  is  sharper  than 
that  of  exile,  and  wherever  we  go,  though  we 
should  pass  our  time  in  the  utmost  comfort, 
yet,  deprived  of  seeing  thee,  the  eye  of  our 
rejoicing  would  be  darkened;  but  for  us  to  pro- 
ceed on  the  earth's  surface  and  so  to  traverse 
a  great  and  long  distance  is  impossible,  and  for 
thee,  too,  to  fly  through  the  expanse  of  air  and 
accompany  us  is  impracticable;  and  such  being 
the  case,  how  can  we  travel  together?" 

The  Tortoise  answered:  "Your  sagacity  will 
be  able  to  devise  a  remedy  for  this  matter,  and 
what  plan  can  develop  while  my  spirit  is  broken 
by  the  thought  of  parting?" 

The   Geese  replied:  "O  friend!   during  this 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  69 

period  of  our  friendship  we  have  observed  in 
thee  somewhat  of  hastiness  and  rashness;  per- 
haps thou  wilt  not  act  upon  what  we  say,  nor 
keep  firm  to  thy  promise  after  thou  hast 
made  it." 

The  Tortoise  rejoined:  "How  can  it  be  that 
ye  should  speak  with  a  view  to  my  advantage, 
and  I  fail  to  perform  a  compact  which  is  for 
my  own  good?" 

Said  the  Geese:  "The  condition  is  that  when 
we  take  thee  up  and  fly  through  the  air  thou 
wilt  not  utter  a  single  syllable,  for  any  one  who 
may  happen  to  see  us  will  be  sure  to  throw  in 
a  word,  and  say  something  in  reference  to  us 
directly  or  indirectly.  Now,  how  many  soever 
allusions  thou  mayest  hear,  or  whatever  ma- 
noeuvres thou  mayest  observe,  thou  must  close 
the  path  of  reply,  and  not  loose  thy  tongue." 

The  Tortoise  answered:  "I  am  obedient  to 
your  commands,  and  I  will  positively  place  the 
seal  of  silence  on  my  lips,  so  that  I  shall  not  be 
even  disposed  to  answer  any  creature." 

The  Geese  then  brought  a  stick,  and  the  Tor- 
toise laid  hold  of  the  middle  of  it  firmly  with 
his  teeth,  and  they,  lifting  the  two  ends  of  the 
stick,  bore  him  up.  When  they  got  to  a  height 
in  the  air,  they  happened  to  pass  over  a  village, 
and  the  inhabitants  thereof  having  discovered 


70  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

them,  were  astonished  at  their  proceedings, 
and  came  out  to  look  at  the  sight,  and  raised 
a  shout  from  left  and  right,  "Look!  how  two 
geese  are.  carry  ing  a  tortoise!" 

And  as  in  those  days  the  like  of  it  had  never 
been  witnessed  by  that  people,  their  cries 
and  exclamations  increased  every  moment.  The 
Tortoise  was  silent  for  a  time,  but  at  length 
the  cauldron  of  his  self-esteem  began  to  boil, 
and  his  patience  being  exhausted,  he  exclaimed: 
"You  who  are  shouting  to  others  to  look  at 
what  is  plain  enough  to  every  one,  hold  your 
peace!"  No  sooner  had  he  opened  his  lips, 
however,  than  he  fell  from  on  high,  and  the 
Geese  exclaimed,  "It  is  the  part  of  friends  to  give 
advice  and  of  the  well-disposed  to  listen  to  it." 

And  the  moral  of  this  story  is,  that  whoever 
listens  not  to  the  admonition  of  friends,  with 
the  hearing  of  acceptance,  will  have  hastened 
his  own  destruction. 

The  Sagacious  Snake 

IT  is  related  that  the  infirmities  of  age  had 
taken  effect  upon  a  Snake  and  through  loss  of 
strength  he  was  unable  to  pursue  his  prey,  and 
was  bewildered  in  his  proceedings  how  to  obtain 
food.  Life  was  impossible  without  food,  and  to 
hunt  for  it,  had,  through  his  weakness,  become 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  71 

impracticable.  Accordingly  he  thus  reflected: 
"Alas!  for  the  strength  of  my  youth;  and  now 
to  expect  its  return  and  to  hope  for  the  recur- 
rence of  my  animal  vigour  is  a  thing  of  the 
same  complexion  as  to  light  a  fire  from  water." 
He  felt  that  what  was  passed  could  not  be 
recalled,  and  he  therefore  busied  himself  with 
taking  thought  for  the  future,  and  said:  "In 
lieu  of  the  strength  of  youth  I  have  a  little 
experience  which  I  have  acquired,  and  a  trifle 
of  prudence.  I  must  now  base  my  proceedings 
on  abstaining  from  injuring  others  and  must 
begin  to  consider  how  I  may  obtain,  for  the 
remainder  of  my  life,  what  may  be  the  means  of 
support." 

He  then  went  to  the  brink  of  a  spring  of  water 
in  which  there  were  a  number  of  frogs  who  had 
a  potent  King  and  one  who  was  obeyed  and 
renowned.  The  Snake  cast  himself  down  there 
in  the  dust  of  the  road,  like  to  a  sufferer  on 
whom  calamity  has  fallen.  A  Frog  speedily 
made  up  to  him,  and  asked  him:  "I  see  thou 
art  Very  sorrowful.  What  is  the  cause  of  it?" 
The  Snake  replied:  "Who  deserves  more  to 
grieve  than  I,  whose  maintenance  was  from 
hunting  frogs?  Today  an  event  has  occurred 
which  has  rendered  the  pursuit  of  them  unlawful 
to  me,  and  if  I  seriously  designed  to  seize  one, 


72  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

I  could  not."  The  Frog  went  away  and  told 
the  King,  who  was  amazed  at  this  strange  cir- 
cumstance, and  coming  to  the  Snake,  asked 
him:  "What  is  the  cause  of  this  accident  that 
has  befallen  thee  and  what  act  has  brought 
down  this  upon  thee?" 

The  Snake  replied:  "O  King,  greed  plunged 
me  into  calamity,  and  this  befell  as  follows: 
One  day  I  attempted  to  seize  a  Frog,  which 
fled  from  me  and  took  refuge  in  the  house  of  a 
holy  man.  My  appetite  led  me  to  follow  him 
into  the  house,  which  happened  to  be  dark. 
The  son  of  the  holy  man  lay  there  asleep,  and 
his  great  toe  coming  against  me  I  fancied  it 
was  the  Frog.  From  the  ardour  of  my  greedi- 
ness I  closed  my  teeth  upon  it,  and  the  child 
died  on  the  spot.  The  holy  man  discovered 
the  fact,  and  from  regret  for  his  son,  attacked 
me,  and  I,  turning  toward  the  open  country, 
fled  with  speed,  and  the  recluse  pursued  me  and 
cursed  me,  and  said:  *  I  desire  of  my  Creator 
that  He  will  make  thee  base  and  powerless,  and 
cause  thee  to  be  the  vehicle  of  the  Frog-king. 
And,  verily,  thou  shalt  not  have  power  to  eat 
Frogs,  save  what  then*  King  shall  bestow  on  thee 
as  alms.'  And  now,  of  necessity,  I  have  come 
hither  that  the  King  may  ride  upon  me,  and  I 
have  acquiesced  in  the  will  of  God." 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  73 

The  matter  pleased  the  King  of  the  Frogs, 
and  he  thought  that  it  would  redound  to  his 
advantage;  and  he  at  once  seated  himself 
upon  the  Snake,  and  indulged  in  vainglorious 
airs  in  consequence. 

Some  time  passed  in  this  way.  At  last  the 
Snake  said:  "May  the  life  of  the  King  be  pro- 
longed! I  cannot  do  without  food  and  sus- 
tenance, that  I  may  support  life  thereon  and 
fulfil  this  service."  The  King  said:  "The  case 
is  as  thou  sayest;  I  cannot  do  without  my  steed, 
and  my  steed  cannot  have  strength  without 
food."  He  then  fixed  two  Frogs  as  his  daily 
allowance,  that  he  might  use  as  his  regular 
supply  for  breakfast  and  dinner.  The  Snake 
maintained  himself  on  that  allowance;  and 
inasmuch  as  the  attention  he  paid  to  the  Frog- 
king  involved  a  benefit  to  himself  he  did  not 
find  fault  with  it. 

And  this  story  is  adduced  to  make  it  ap- 
parent that  courtesy  and  humility  are  readier 
means  to  uproot  an  enemy  than  war  and  contest. 

The  Old  Woman's  Cat 

IN  FORMER  times  there  lived  an  old  woman  in 
a  state  of  extreme  debility.  She  possessed  a 
cot  more  narrow  than  the  heart  of  the  ignorant 
and  darker  than  the  miser's  grave;  and  a  Cat 


74  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

was  her  companion,  which  had  never  seen,  even 
in  the  mirror  of  imagination,  the  face  of  a 
loaf,  nor  had  heard  from  friend  or  stranger 
the  name  of  meat.  It  was  content  if  occasion- 
ally it  smelt  the  odour  of  a  mouse  from  its  hole, 
or  saw  the  print  of  the  foot  of  one  on  the  surface 
of  a  board,  and  if,  on  some  rare  occasion,  by 
the  aid  of  good  fortune  one  fell  into  its  claws, 
it  subsisted  a  whole  week,  more  or  less,  on  that 
amount  of  food. 

And,  inasmuch  as  the  house  of  the  old  woman 
was  the  famine-year  of  that  Cat,  it  was  always 
miserable  and  thin,  and  from  a  distance  ap- 
peared like  an  idea. 

One  day,  through  excessive  weakness,  it 
had,  with  the  utmost  difficulty,  mounted  on 
the  top  of  the  roof;  thence  it  beheld  a  Cat 
which  walked  proudly  on  the  wall  of  a  neigh- 
bouring house,  and  after  the  fashion  of  a  de- 
stroying lion  advanced  with  measured  steps, 
and  from  excessive  fat  lifted  its  feet  slowly. 
When  the  Cat  of  the  old  woman  saw  this,  it 
was  astonished  and  cried  out,  saying:  "Thou, 
whose  state  is  thus  pleasant,  whence  art  thou? 
and  since  it  appears  that  thou  comest  from 
the  banquet-chamber  of  the  Khan  of  Khata, 
whence  is  this  sleekness  of  thine,  and  from  what 
cause  this  thy  grandeur  and  strength?" 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  75 

The  Neighbour-Cat  replied :  "I  am  the  crumb- 
eater  of  the  tray  of  the  Sultan.  Every  morning 
I  attend  on  the  court  of  the  king,  and  when  they 
spread  the  tray  of  invitation,  I  display  boldness 
and  daring,  and  in  general  I  snatch  off  some 
morsels  of  fat  meats,  and  of  loaves  made  of 
the  finest  flour;  and  thus  I  pass  my  time  happy 
and  satisfied  till  the  next  day." 

The  Cat  of  the  old  woman  inquired:  "What 
sort  of  a  thing  may  fat  meat  be?  and  what  kind 
of  relish  has  bread,  made  of  fine  flour?  I, 
during  my  whole  life,  have  never  seen  nor 
tasted  aught  save  the  old  woman's  broths,  and 
mouse's  flesh." 

The  Neighbour-Cat  laughed,  and  said :  "There- 
fore it  is  that  one  cannot  distinguish  thee  from 
a  spider,  and  this  form  and  appearance  that 
thou  hast  is  a  reproach  to  our  whole  race.  If 
thou  shouldst  see  the  court  of  the  Sultan  and 
smell  the  odour  of  those  delicious  viands,  thou 
wouldst  acquire  a  fresh  form. " 

The  Cat  of  the  old  woman,  said,  most  be- 
seechingly, "O  brother!  thou  art  bound  to  me 
by  neighbourship  and  kinship;  why  not  this 
time,  when  thou  goest,  take  me  with  thee? 
Perchance,  by  thy  good  fortune,  I  may  ob- 
tain food." 
s  The  heart  of  the  Neighbour-Cat  melted  at 


76  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

the  speaker's  lamentable  position,  and  he  re- 
solved that  he  would  not  attend  the  feast 
without  him.  The  Cat  of  the  old  woman  felt 
new  life  at  these  tidings,  and  descending  from 
the  roof  stated  the  case  to  his  mistress.  The 
old  dame  began  to  advise  the  Cat,  saying: 
"  O  kind  companion,  be  not  deceived  by]  the 
words  of  worldly  people  and  abandon  not  the 
corner  of  content,  for  the  vessel  of  covetous- 
ness  is  not  filled  save  with  the  dust  of  the 
grave."  But  the  Cat  had  taken  into  its  head 
such  a  longing  for  the  delicacies  of  the  Sultan's 
table  that  the  medicine  of  advice  was  not  profit- 
able to  it. 

In  short,  the  next  day,  along  with  its  neigh- 
bour, the  old  woman's  Cat,  with  tottering 
steps  conveyed  itself  to  court,  but  before  it 
could  arrive  there  ill-fortune  had  poured  the 
water  of  disappointment  on  the  fire  of  its  wish, 
and  the  reason  was  as  follows: 

The  day  before,  the  cats  had  made  a  general 
onslaught  on  the  table,  and  raised  an  uproar 
beyond  bounds,  and  annoyed,  to  the  last  degree, 
the  guests  and  their  host.  Wherefore,  on  this 
day,  the  Sultan  had  commanded  that  a  band 
of  archers,  standing  in  ambush,  should  watch, 
so  that  for  every  cat  who,  holding  before  its 
face  the  buckler  of  impudence  should  enter  the 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  77 

plain  of  audacity,  the  very  first  morsel  that  it 
ate  should  be  a  liver-piercing  shaft. 

The  old  woman's  Cat,  ignorant  of  this  cir- 
cumstance, as  soon  as  it  smelt  the  odour  of  the 
viands,  turned  its  face  like  a  falcon  to  the 
hunting-ground  of  the  table,  and  the  scale  of  the 
balance  of  appetite  had  not  yet  been  weighted 
by  heavy  mouthfuls,  when  the  heart-piercing 
arrow  quivered  in  its  breast. 

Dear  friend !  the  honey  pays  not  for  the  sting, 
Content  with  syrup  is  a  better  thing. 

The  Young  Tiger 

IN  THE  environs  of  Basrah  there  was  an 
island  of  excessively  pleasant  climate,  where 
limpid  waters  flowed  on  every  side  and  life- 
bestowing  zephyrs  breathed  around. 

From  its  excessive  exquisiteness  they  called 
it  the  "  Joy  -expanding  Wilderness,"  and  a 
Tiger  bore  sway  there,  such  that  from  dread 
of  him  fierce  lions  could  not  set  foot  in  that 
retreat. 

He  had  lived  much  time  in  that  wild,  accord- 
ing to  his  wish,  and  had  never  seen  the  form  of 
disappointment  in  the  mirror  of  existence.  He 
had  a  young  one  whose  countenance  made  the 
world  seem  bright  to  him,  and  his  intention 
was  that  when  that  young  one  came  to  years 


78  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

he  would  commit  that  solitude  to  his  charge, 
and  pass  the  rest  of  his  life  at  ease  in  the  corner 
of  retirement.  The  blossom  of  his  wish  had 
not  yet  expanded  on  the  stem  of  desire  when 
the  autumn  of  death  gave  the  fruit  of  the  gar- 
den of  his  existence  to  the  mind  of  destruction. 

And  when  this  Tiger  was  seized  by  the 
claw  of  the  Lion,  Death,  several  wild  beasts 
who  for  a  long  time  entertained  a  desire  for 
that  wilderness  made  a  unanimous  movement 
and  set  about  appropriating  it.  The  young 
Tiger  saw  that  he  possessed  not  the  strength  to 
resist.  He  went  voluntarily  into  exile,  and 
amongst  the  wild  beasts  a  huge  contest  arose. 
A  blood-spilling  Lion  overcame  all  the  others 
and  brought  the  island  into  his  own  possession, 
and  the  young  Tiger,  having  for  some  time 
endured  distress  in  the  mountains  and  wastes, 
conveyed  himself  to  another  haunt,  and  dis- 
closed his  affliction  to  the  wild  beasts  of  that 
district,  asking  their  aid  to  find  a  remedy. 

They,  having  received  intelligence  of  the 
victory  of  the  Lion,  and  his  overpowering  might, 
said:  "O  unfortunate!  thy  place  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  a  Lion  such  that  from  terror  of 
him  the  wild  birds  will  not  fly  over  that  wilder- 
ness, and  from  fear  of  him  the  elephant  will 
not  approach.  We  have  not  strength  to  fight 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  79 

with  him  and  thou  too  art  not  able  to  enter 
with  him  the  arena  of  strife.  Our  opinion 
demands  that  thou  shouldst  betake  thyself  to 
his  court,  and  with  perfect  loyalty  enter  his 
service. " 

These  words  seemed  reasonable  to  the  young 
Tiger,  and  he  looked  upon  his  best  course  to 
be  this  —  that  he  should  voluntarily  enter  the 
service  of  the  Lion,  and,  to  the  extent  of  his 
ability,  offer  the  duties  of  attendance.  Through 
the  intervention  of  one  of  the  nobles  he  ob- 
tained the  honour  of  waiting  on  the  Lion,  and, 
having  become  the  object  of  the  imperial  re- 
gard, was  appointed  to  an  office  suited  to  his 
spirit.  Having  tightly  fastened  the  belt  of 
obedience  on  the  waist  of  affection  the  royal 
favour  was  constantly  augmented  and  he  in- 
cessantly displayed  increased  exertion  in  the 
affairs  of  the  state. 

Upon  a  certain  time  an  important  matter 
arose  which  called  the  Lion  away  to  a  distant 
jungle;  and  at  that  time  the  heat  of  the  oven 
of  the  sky  was  unmitigated,  and  the  expanse 
of  waste  and  mountain  like  a  furnace  of  glass 
fiercely  inflamed.  From  the  excessive  heat  of 
the  air,  the  brains  of  animals  were  boiled  in 
their  craniums,  and  the  crabs  in  the  water  were 
fried  like  fish  in  the  frying-pan. 


80  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Lion  reflected:  "At  such  a  time,  when 
the  shell  at  the  bottom  of  the  deep,  like  a  fowl 
on  a  spit,  is  roasting,  an  affair  of  this  impor- 
tance has  occurred.  Who  may  there  be  among 
my  attendants  who  would  not  be  affected  by 
the  labour  and  who,  undeterred  by  the  heat 
of  the  atmosphere,  would  approach  this  under- 
taking?" 

In  the  midst  of  this  reflection  the  Tiger  came 
in  with  the  line  of  attendants  and  observed 
that  the  Lion  was  thoughtful.  On  the  ground 
of  his  tact  and  affection,  he  advanced  near  the 
throne  of  royalty,  and  was  emboldened  to  ask 
the  cause  of  that  thoughtfulness,  and  having 
learned  how  the  case  stood,  he  took  upon  him- 
self to  accomplish  the  matter,  and  having  been 
honoured  with  permission,  he  set  off  with  a 
body  of  attendants,  and,  arriving  at  that  place 
at  noon,  he  betook  himself  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  that  affair,  and  the  instant  that  the 
business  was  settled  to  his  satisfaction  he 
changed  his  reins  to  return. 

The  officers  who  had  been  appointed  to  at- 
tend him  unanimously  represented  as  follows: 
"In  such  heat  as  this,  all  this  distance  has  been 
traversed  by  the  steps  of  completion,  and  now 
that  the  affair  has  been  settled  and  the  con- 
fidence placed  in  you  by  his  majesty  been 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  81 

demonstrated,  it  will  certainly  be  advisable  if 
you  should  repose  a  short  time  in  the  shade  of 
a  tree  and  allay  the  fiery  tongue  of  thirst  by 
drinking  cool  water. " 

The  Tiger  smiled  and  said:  "My  intimacy 
and  rank  with  his  majesty  the  king  is  a  banner 
that  I  have  by  toil  and  effort  set  up.  It  would 
not  be  well  to  level  it  with  the  ground  by  in- 
dulgence and  sloth.  Without  supporting  trouble 
it  is  impossible  to  arrive  at  the  carrying  off  of 
treasure,  and  unaccompanied  by  the  thorn  we 
cannot  reap  the  enjoyment  of  the  rose  garden. " 

The  informers  furnished  intelligence  of  this 
to  the  Lion,  and  recited  the  book  of  the  affair, 
from  preface  to  conclusion.  The  Lion  nodded 
the  head  of  approval,  and  said:  "The  people 
may  be  at  peace  in  the  just  reign  of  that  ruler 
who  does  not  place  his  head  on  the  pillow  of 
repose. "  He  then  sent  for  the  Tiger,  and  hav- 
ing distinguished  him  with  special  honours, 
committed  that  jungle  to  him,  and,  having 
bestowed  on  him  the  place  of  his  sire,  conferred 
on  him,  in  addition,  the  dignity  of  being  his 
heir. 

And  the  use  of  this  fable  is,  that  thou  mayest 
learn  that  to  no  one  does  the  sun  of  his  wish 
rise  from  the  eastern  quarter  of  hope  without 
the  diligent  use  of  great  exertion. 


82  v  THE  TALKING  BEASTS . 

The  Fox  and  the  Drum 

IT  is  related  that  a  Fox  was  once  prowling 
over  a  moor,  and  was  roaming  in  every  direc- 
tion in  hope  of  scenting  food.  Presently  he 
came  to  the  foot  of  a  tree,  at  the  side  of  which 
they  had  suspended  a  drum,  and  whenever  a 
gust  of  wind  came,  a  branch  of  the  tree  was  put 
in  motion,  and  struck  the  surface  of  the  drum, 
when  a  terrible  noise  arose  from  it. 

The  Fox,  seeing  a  domestic  fowl  under  the  tree, 
who  was  pecking  the  ground  with  her  beak, 
and  searching  for  food,  planted  himself  in  am- 
bush, and  wished  to  make  her  his  prey,  when 
all  of  a  sudden  the  sound  of  a  drum  reached  his 
ear.  He  looked  and  saw  a  very  fat  form,  and 
a  prodigious  sound  from  it  reached  his  hearing. 
The  appetite  of  the  Fox  was  excited,  and  he 
thought  to  himself,  "Assuredly  its  flesh  and  skin 
will  be  proportioned  to  its  voice. " 

He  issued  from  his  lurking-place  and  turned 
toward  the  tree.  The  fowl  being  put  on  its  guard 
by  that  circumstance,  fled,  and  the  Fox,  by  a 
hundred  exertions,  ascended  the  tree.  Much 
did  he  labour  till  he  had  torn  the  drum,  and  then 
he  found  nought  save  a  skin  and  a  piece  of 
wood.  The  fire  of  regret  descended  into  his 
heart,  and  the  water  of  contrition  began  to 


;  THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  83 

run  from  his  eyes,  and  he  said:  "Alas!  that 
by  reason  of  this  huge  bulk  which  is  all  wind, 
that  lawful  prey  has  escaped  from  my  hand, 
and  from  this  empty  form  no  advantage  has 
resulted  to  me. " 

Loudly  ever  sounds  the  tabour, 
But  in  vain  —  within  is  nought: 

Art  thou  wise,  for  substance  labour, 
Semblance  will  avail  thee  nought. 

The  Sparrows  and  the  Falcon 

Two  Sparrows  once  fixed  their  nest  on  the 
branch  of  a  tree;  and  of  worldly  gear,  water 
and  grain  sufficed  them;  while  on  the  summit 
of  a  mountain,  beneath  which  that  tree  lay,  a 
Falcon  had  its  abode,  which,  at  the  time  of 
stooping  on  its  quarry,  issued  from  its  lurking- 
place  like  lightning,  and,  like  heaven's  bolt, 
clean  consumed  the  feebler  birds. 

Whenever  the  Sparrows  produced  young, 
and  the  time  was  near  at  hand  for  them  to  fly, 
that  Falcon,  rushing  forth  from  its  ambush, 
used  to  carry  them  off  and  make  them  food  for 
its  own  young.  Now,  to  those  Sparrows  — 
in  accordance  with  the  saying,  "The  law  of  home 
is  a  part  of  faith  "  —  to  migrate  from  that  place 
was  impossible,  and  yet  from  the  cruelty  of  the 
tyrannous  Hawk  it  was  difficult  to  reside  there. 


84  .   THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

On  one  occasion  their  young  ones,  having 
gained  strength  and  put  forth  feathers  and  wings, 
were  able  to  move;  and  the  father  and  mother, 
pleased  with  the  sight  of  their  offspring,  testi- 
fied their  joy  at  their  attempt  to  fly. 

Suddenly  the  thought  of  the  Falcon  passed 
through  their  minds,  and,  all  at  once,  they 
began  to  lament  from  anxiety. 

One  of  their  children  —  in  whose  countenance 
the  signs  of  ripe  discretion  were  visible  —  hav- 
ing inquired  the  reason  of  their  despondency, 
they  recounted  the  history  of  the  Falcon's 
oppression  and  of  its  carrying  off  their  young, 
with  all  the  particulars. 

The  son  said;  "The  Causer  of  Causes  has 
sent  a  cure  for  every  sorrow.  It  is  probable 
that  if  ye  exert  yourselves  in  repelling  this 
misfortune  both  this  calamity  will  be  averted 
from  our  heads  and  this  burden  removed  from 
your  hearts. " 

These  words  pleased  the  Sparrows;  and  while 
one  of  them  stopped  to  attend  the  young  ones, 
the  other  flew  forth  in  search  of  relief.  He 
resolved  in  his  mind  on  the  way  that  he  would 
tell  his  story  to  whatsoever  animal  his  eyes 
first  fell  upon,  and  ask  a  remedy  for  his  heart's 
distress  from  it. 
v  It  happened  that  a  Salamander,  having  come 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  85 

forth  from  a  mine  of  fire,  was  wandering  in 
the  spreading  plain  of  the  desert.  When  the 
glance  of  the  Sparrow  lighted  upon  him,  and 
that  strange  form  came  into  his  view,  he  said 
to  himself:  "I  have  fallen  upon  good!  Come 
on,  I  will  disclose  the  grief  of  my  heart  to  this 
marvellous  bird ;  perhaps  he  may  undo  the  knot 
of  my  affairs  and  may  show  me  the  way  to  a 
remedy."  Then  with  the  utmost  respect,  he 
advanced  to  the  Salamander,  and  after  the 
usual  salutation,  paid  the  compliment  of  offering 
service.  The  Salamander,  too,  in  a  kind  tone, 
expressed  the  courtesy  required  toward  travellers 
and  said:  "The  traces  of  weariness  are  discern- 
ible in  thy  countenance.  If  this  arises  from 
journeying,  be  pleased  to  halt  some  days  in 
this  neighbourhood;  and  if  the  case  be  aught 
else,  explain  it,  that,  to  the  extent  of  my  power, 
I  may  exert  myself  to  remedy  it. " 

The  Sparrow  loosed  his  tongue,  and  represen- 
ted to  the  Salamander  his  piteous  condition, 
after  a  fashion,  that,  had  he  told  it  to  a 
rock,  it  would  have  been  rent  in  pieces  by  his 
distress. 

After  hearing  his  tale,  the  Salamander,  too, 
felt  the  fire  of  compassion  kindled,  and  he 
said;  "Grieve  not!  for  I  will  this  night  take 
such  measures  as  to  consume  the  Falcon's 


86  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

abode  and  nest  and  all  that  therein  is.  Do 
thou  point  out  to  me  thy  dwelling,  and  go 
to  thy  offspring  until  the  time  I  come  to 
thee." 

The  Sparrow  indicated  his  dwelling  in  such 
a  way  as  not  to  leave  a  doubt  in  the  mind  of 
the  Salamander;  and  with  a  glad  heart  turned 
toward  his  own  nest.  When  the  night  came 
on,  the  Salamander,  with  a  number  of  its  own 
kind,  each  carrying  a  quantity  of  naphtha  and 
brimstone,  set  off  in  the  direction  of  the  spot, 
and  under  the  guidance  of  that  Sparrow  con- 
veyed themselves  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Falcon's 
nest. 

The  latter,  unaware  of  the  impending  mis- 
fortune, had,  with  its  young,  eaten  plentifully 
and  fallen  asleep.  The  Salamanders  cast  upon 
their  nest  all  the  naphtha  and  brimstone  that 
they  had  brought  with  them  and  turned  back  and 
the  blast  of  justice  fell  upon  those  oppressors. 
They  rose  up  from  the  sleep  of  negligence  and 
all  of  them,  with  their  abode  and  nest,  were 
at  once  consumed  to  ashes. 

And  this  instance  is  given  that  thou  mayest 
know  that  every  one  who  labours  to  repel  an 
enemy,  though  he  be  small  and  weak,  and  his 
foe  great  and  strong,  may  yet  hope  for  victory 
and  triumph. 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  87 

The  Hermit,  the  Thief,  and  the  Demon 

IT  is  related  that  a  Hermit  of  pure  dis- 
position, abstemious  and  virtuous,  had  made  his 
cell  in  one  of  the  environs  of  Baghdad,  and 
passed  his  morning  and  evening  hours  in  the 
worship  of  the  All-wise  King,  and  by  these  means 
had  shaken  his  skirt  clear  from  the  dust  of 
worldly  affairs.  He  had  bowed  his  head  in  the 
corner  of  contentment  under  the  collar  of 
freedom  from  care,  and  rested  satisfied  with 
the  portion  that  was  supplied  to  him  from  the 
invisible  world. 

One  of  his  sincere  disciples  got  knowledge 
of  the  poverty  and  fastings  of  the  Holy  Man, 
and  by  way  of  offering,  brought  to  the  hermi- 
tage a  she  buffalo,  young  and  fat,  with  whose 
delicious  milk  the  palate  of  desire  was  oiled 
and  sweetened. 

A  thief  beheld  the  circumstance,  and  his 
hungry  appetite  was  excited;  and  he  set  off  for 
the  cell  of  the  recluse.  A  demon,  too,  joined 
him  in  the  likeness  of  a  man.  The  thief  asked 
him:  "Who  art  thou,  and  whither  goest  thou?'* 
He  replied:  "I  am  a  demon,  who  have  assumed 
this  shape,  and,  putting  on  this  guise,  am  going 
to  the  hermitage  of  the  recluse,  for  many  of 
the  people  of  this  country,  through  the  blessing 


88  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

of  his  instruction,  have  begun  to  repent  and  to 
be  converted  and  the  market  of  our  tempta- 
tions has  become  flat.  I  wish  to  get  an  op- 
portunity and  kill  him.  This  is  my  story  which 
thou  hast  heard;  now,  tell  me,  who  art  thou 
and  what  is  thy  story?"  The  thief  replied: 
"I  am  a  man  whose  trade  is  roguery,  and  I  am 
occupied  night  and  day  with  thinking  how  to 
steal  some  one's  goods  and  impose  the  scar  of 
affliction  on  his  heart.  I  am  now  going,  as  the 
recluse  has  got  a  fat  buffalo,  to  steal  it  and  use 
it  for  my  own  wants."  The  demon  said; 
"Praise  be  to  God  that  the  bond  of  kinship  is 
strong  between  us,  and  this  alone  is  sufficient 
to  ally  us,  since  the  object  of  both  is  to  assail 
him." 

|P  They  then  proceeded  on  their  way,  and  at 
night  reached  the  cell  of  the  recluse.  The 
latter  had  finished  the  performance  of  his  daily 
worship,  and  had  gone  to  sleep,  just  as  he  was, 
on  his  prayer-carpet.  The  thief  bethought 
himself,  that  if  the  demon  attempted  to  kill 
him  he  would  probably  awake  and  make  an 
outcry;  and  the  other  people  who  were  his  neigh- 
bours, would  be  alarmed,  and  in  that  case 
it  would  be  impossible  to  steal  the  buffalo. 
The  demon,  too,  reflected  that  if  the  thief  carried 
off  the  buffalo  from  the  house,  he  must  of  course 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  89 

open  the  door.  Then  the  noise  of  the  door 
would  very  likely  awaken  the  recluse,  and  he 
should  have  to  postpone  killing  him.  He  then 
said  to  the  thief:  "Do  thou  wait  and  give  me 
time  to  kill  the  hermit,  and  then  do  thou 
steal  the  buffalo."  The  thief  rejoined:  "Stop 
thou  till  I  steal  the  buffalo,  and  then  kill  the 
hermit." 

This  difference  was  prolonged  between  them, 
and  at  last  the  Iwords  of  both  came  to  wrangling. 
The  thief  was  so  annoyed  that  he  called  out  to 
the  recluse:  "There  is  a  demon  here  who  wants 
to  kill  thee."  The  demon,  too,  shouted: 
"  Here  is  a  thief,  who  wants  to  steal  thy  buffalo. " 

The  hermit  was  roused  by  the  uproar,  and 
raised  a  cry,  whereupon  the  neighbours  came, 
and  both  the  thief  and  the  demon  ran  way; 
and  the  life  and  property  of  the  Holy  Man  re- 
mained safe  and  secure  through  the  quarrel  of 
his  enemies. 

When  the  two  hostile  armies  fall  to  strife, 

Then  from  its  sheath  what  need  to  draw  the  knife? 

The  King  and  the  Hawk 

IT  is  related  that  in  ancient  times  there  was 
a  King  fond  of  hunting.  He  was  ever  giving 
reins  to  the  courser  of  his  desire  in  the  pursuit 
of  game,  and  was  always  casting  the  lasso  of 


90  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

gladness  over  the  neck  of  sport.  Now  this 
King  had  a  Hawk,  who  at  a  single  flight  could 
bring  down  a  pebble  from  the  peak  of  the  Cau- 
casus, and  in  terror  of  whose  claws  the  con- 
stellation Aquila  kept  himself  in  the  green  nest 
of  the  sky;  and  the  King  had  a  prodigious 
fondness  for  this  Hawk  and  always  cared  for  it 
with  his  own  hands. 

It  happened  one  day  that  the  Monarch, 
holding  the  Hawk  on  his  hand,  had  gone  to  the 
chase.  A  stag  leapt  up  before  him  and  he 
galloped  after  it  with  the  utmost  eagerness. 
But  he  did  not  succeed  in  coming  up  with  it, 
and  became  separated  from  his  retinue  and 
servants;  and  though  some  of  them  followed 
him,  the  King  rode  so  hotly  that  the  morning 
breeze  could  not  have  reached  the  dust  he  raised. 

Meantime  the  fire  of  his  thirst  was  kindled, 
and  the  intense  desire  to  drink  overcame  the 
King.  He  galloped  his  steed  in  .every  direction 
in  search  of  water  until  he  reached  the  skirt 
of  a  mountain,  and  beheld  that  from  its  summit 
limpid  water  was  trickling.  The  King  drew 
forth  a  cup  which  he  had  in  his  quiver,  and 
riding  under  the  mountain  filled  the  cup  with 
that  water,  which  fell  drop  by  drop,  and  was 
about  to  take  a  draught,  when  the  Hawk  made 
a  blow  with  his  wing,  and  spilled  all  the  water 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  91 

in  the  goblet.  The  King  was  vexed  at  this 
action,  but  held  the  cup  a  second  time  under 
the  rock,  until  it  was  brimful.  He  then  raised 
it  to  his  lips  again,  and  again  the  Hawk  made  a 
movement  and  overthrew  the  cup.  The  King 
rendered  impatient  by  thirst,  dashed  the  Hawk 
on  the  ground  and  killed  it. 

Shortly  after  a  stirrup-holder  of  the  King 
came  up  and  saw  the  Hawk  dead,  and  the 
Monarch  athirst.  He  then  undid  a  water- 
vessel  from  his  saddle-cord  and  washed  the 
cup  clean,  and  was  about  to  give  the  King  a 
drink.  The  latter  bade  him  ascend  the  moun- 
tain, as  he  had  an  inclination  for  the  pure  water 
which  trickled  from  the  rock;  and  could  not 
wait  to  collect  it  in  the  cup,  drop  by  drop.  The 
stirrup-holder  ascended  the  mountain  and  beheld 
a  spring  giving  out  a  drop  at  a  time  with  a 
hundred  stintings;  and  a  huge  serpent  lay  dead 
on  the  margin  of  the  fountain;  and  as  the  heat 
of  the  sun  had  taken  effect  upon  it,  the  poisonous 
saliva  mixed  with  the  water  of  that  mountain, 
and  it  trickled  drop  by  drop  down  the  rock. 

The  stirrup-holder  was  overcome  with  hor- 
ror, and  came  down  from  the  mountain  bewil- 
dered, and  represented  the  state  of  the  case, 
and  gave  the  King  a  cup  of  cold  water  from  his 
ewer.  The  latter  raised  the  cup  to  his  lips, 


92  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

and  his  eyes  overflowed  with  tears.  The  at- 
tendant asked  the  reason  of  his  weeping.  The 
King  drew  a  sigh  from  his  anguished  heart  and 
relating  in  full  the  story  of  the  Hawk  and  the 
spilling  of  the  water  in  the  cup,  said:  "I  grieve 
for  the  death  of  the  Hawk,  and  bemoan  my  own 
deed  in  that  without  inquiry  I  have  deprived 
a  creature,  so  dear  to  me,  of  life."  The  at- 
tendant replied:  "This  Hawk  protected  thee 
from  a  great  peril,  and  has  established  a  claim 
to  the  gratitude  of  all  the  people  of  this  country. 
It  would  have  been  better  if  the  King  had  not 
been  precipitate  in  slaying  it,  and  had  quenched 
the  fire  of  wrath  with  the  water  of  mildness." 

The  King  replied;  "I  repent  of  this  unseemly 
action;  but  my  repentance  is  now  unavailing, 
and  the  wound  of  this  sorrow  cannot  be  healed 
by  any  salve";  and  this  story  is  related  in  order 
that  it  may  be  known  that  many  such  incidents 
have  occurred  where,  through  the  disastrous 
results  of  precipitation,  men  have  fallen  into  the 
whirlpool  of  repentance. 

The  Mouse  and  the  Frog 

IT  is  related  that  a  Mouse  had  taken  up 
its  abode  on  the  brink  of  a  fountain  and  had 
fixed  its  residence  at  the  foot  of  a  tree. 

A  Frog,  too,  passed  his  time  in  the  water 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  93 

there,  and  sometimes  came  to  the  margin  of 
the  pool  to  take  the  air.  One  day,  coming  to 
the  edge  of  the  water,  he  continued  uttering 
his  voice  in  a  heart-rending  cadence  and  as- 
sumed himself  to  be  a  nightingale  of  a  thousand 
melodies. 

At  that  time  the  Mouse  was  engaged  in  chant- 
ing in  a  corner  of  his  cell.  Directly  he  heard  the 
uproarious  yelling  of  the  Frog  he  was  astounded, 
and  came  out  with  the  intention  of  taking  a 
look  at  the  reciter;  and  while  occupied  with 
listening  to  him,  kept  smiting  his  hands  together 
and  shaking  his  head.  These  gestures,  which 
seemed  to  display  approbation,  pleased  the 
Frog  and  he  made  advances  toward  acquain- 
tance with  him.  In  short,  being  mutually 
pleased  with  each  other,  they  became  inseparable 
companions,  and  used  to  narrate  to  each  other 
entertaining  stories  and  tales. 

One  day  the  Mouse  said  to  the  Frog:  "I  am 
oftentimes  desirous  of  disclosing  to  thee  a 
secret  and  recounting  to  thee  a  grief  which  I 
have  at  heart,  and  at  that  moment  thou  art 
abiding  under  the  water.  However  much  I 
shout  thou  hearest  me  not,  owing  to  the  noise 
of  the  water,  and  in  spite  of  my  crying  to  thee, 
the  sound  cannot  reach  thee,  because  of  the 
clamour  of  the  other  frogs.  We  must  devise 


94  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

some  means  by  which  thou  mayest  know  when 
I  come  to  the  brink  of  the  water,  and  thus 
mayest  be  informed  of  my  arrival  without  my 
shouting  to  thee. " 

The  Frog  said:  "Thou  speakest  the  truth. 
I,  too,  have  often  pondered  uneasily,  thinking, 
should  my  friend  come  to  the  brink  of  the  water, 
how  shall  I,  at  the  bottom  of  this  fountain, 
learn  his  arrival?  And  it  sometimes  happens 
that  I,  too,  come  to  the  mouth  of  thy  hole, 
and  thou  hast  gone  out  from  another  side, 
and  I  havei  to  wait  long.  I  had  intended  to 
have  touched  somewhat  on  this  subject  be- 
fore, but  now  the  arrangement  of  it  rests  with 
thee." 

The  Mouse  replied:  "I  have  got  hold  of  the 
thread  of  a  plan,  and  it  appears  to  me  the  best 
thing  to  get  a  long  string,  and  to  fasten  one  end 
to  thy  foot,  and  tie  the  other  tight  around  my 
own,  in  order  that  when  I  come  to  the  water's 
edge  and  shake  the  string,  thou  mayest  know 
what  I  want;  and  if  thou,  too,  art  so  kind  as  to 
come  to  the  door  of  my  cell,  I  may  also  get 
information  by  thy  jerking  the  string."  Both 
parties  agreed  to  this,  and  the  knot  of  friend- 
ship was  in  this  manner  firmly  secured,  and  they 
were  also  kept  informed  of  one  another's  con- 
dition. One  day,  the  Mouse  came  to  the  water's 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  95 

edge  to  seek  the  Frog,  in  order  to  renew  their 
friendly  converse.  All  of  a  sudden  a  Crow, 
like  an  unforeseen  calamity,  flew  down  from  the 
air,  and  snatching  up  the  Mouse,  soared  aloft, 
with  him.  The  string  which  was  tied  to  the 
leg  of  the  Mouse  drew  forth  the  Frog  from  the 
bottom  of  the  water,  and,  as  the  other  leg  was 
fastened  to  the  Frog's  leg,  he  was  suspended 
head  downward  in  the  air.  The  Crow  flew 
on,  holding  the  Mouse  in  its  beak,  and  lower 
still  the  Frog  hanging  head  downward.  Peo- 
ple witnessing  that  extraordinary  sight  were 
uttering  in  the  road  various  jokes  and  sar- 
casms: "A  strange  thing  this,  that  contrary 
to  his  wont,  a  crow  has  made  a  prey  of  a  frog!" 
and  "Never  before  was  a  frog  the  prey  of  a 
crow!'" 

The  Frog  was  howling  out  in  reply:  "Now, 
too,  a  Frog  is  not  the  prey  of  a  Crow,  but  from 
the  bad  luck  of  associating  with  a  Zvlouse,  I 
have  been  caught  in  this  calamity,  and  he  who 
associates  with  a  different  species  deserves  a 
thousand  times  as  much." 

And  this  story  carries  with  it  this  beneficial 
advice:  That  no  one  ought  to  associate  with 
one  of  a  different  race,  in  order  that,  like  the 
Frog,  he  may  not  be  suspended  on  the  string  of 
calamity. 


96  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Crow  and  the  Partridge 

IT  is  related  that  one  day  a  Crow  was  fly- 
ing and  saw  a  Partridge,  which  was  walking 
gracefully  on  the  ground  with  a  quick  step  and 
graceful  gait  that  enchanted  the  heart  of  the 
looker-on. 

The  Crow  was  pleased  with  the  gait  of  the 
Partridge,  and  amazed  at  its  agility.  The 
desire  of  walking  in  the  same  manner  fixed 
itself  in  his  mind,  and  the  insane  longing  to 
step  proudly,  after  this  fascinating  fashion, 
made  its  appearance.  He  forthwith  girt  his 
loins  in  attendance  on  the  Partridge,  and  aban- 
doning sleep  and  food,  gave  himself  up  to  that 
arduous  occupation,  and  kept  continually  run- 
ning in  the  traces  of  the  Partridge  and  gazing 
on  its  progress. 

One  day  the  Partridge  said:  "O  crazy, 
black-faced  one!  I  observe  that  thou  art  ever 
hovering  about  me,  and  art  always  watch- 
ing my  motions.  What  is  it  that  thou  dost 
want?" 

The  Crow  replied:  "O  thou  of  graceful 
manners  and  sweet  smiling  face,  know  that 
having  conceived  a  desire  to  learn  thy  gait, 
I  have  followed  thy  steps  for  a  long  time  past, 
and  wish  to  acquire  thy  manner  of  walking,  in 


THE  FABLES  OF  BIDPAI  97 

order  that  I  may  place  the  foot  of  preeminence 
on  the  head  of  my  fellows." 

The  Partridge  uttered  a  merry  laugh,  and 
said:  "Alack!  alack!  My  walking  gracefully  is 
a  thing  implanted  in  me  by  nature,  and  thy 
style  of  going  is  equally  a  natural  characteristic. 
My  going  is  in  one  way,  and  thy  mode  of  pro- 
cedure is  quite  another.  Leave  off  this  fancy 
and  relinquish  this  idea. " 

The  Crow  replied:  "Since  I  have  plunged 
into  this  affair,  no  idle  stories  shall  make  me 
give  it  up;  and  until  I  grasp  my  wished-for 
object,  I  will  not  turn  back  from  this  road." 

So  the  unfortunate  Crow  for  a  long  time  ran 
after  the  Partridge,  and  having  failed  to  learn 
his  method  of  going,  forgot  his  own  too,  and 
could  in  nowise  recover  it. 


FABLES  FROM  THE    HITOPADESA 

"This  work  entitled  Hitopadesa,  or  Friendly 
Instructor,*  afordeth  elegance  in  the  Sanskrit 
idioms,  in  every  part  variety  of  language,  and 
inculcateth  the  doctrine  of  prudence  and  policy." 


FABLES  FROM  THE  HITOPADESA 

The  Traveller  and  the  Tiger 

A  traveller,  through  lust  of  gold,  being  plunged  into  an  inextricable 
mire,  is  killed  and  devoured  by  an  old  tiger. 

A  I  was  travelling  on  the  southern  road, 
once  upon  a  time,  I  saw  an  old  Tiger 
seated  upon  the  bank  of  a  large  river, 
with  a  bunch  of  kusa  grass  in  his  paw,  calling 
out  to  every  one  who  passed:  "Ho!  ho! 
traveller,  take  this  golden  bracelet,"  but 
every  one  was  afraid  to  approach  him  to  receive 
it.  At  length,  however,  a  certain  wayfarer, 
tempted  by  avarice,  regarded  it  as  an  instance 
of  good  fortune;  but,  said  he,  in  this  there  is 
personal  danger,  in  which  we  are  not  warranted 
to  proceed.  Yet,  said  he,  there  is  risk  in  every 
undertaking  for  the  acquisition  of  wealth. 

The  Traveller  then  asked  where  was  the 
bracelet;  and  the  Tiger,  having  held  out  his 
paw,  showed  it  to  him  and  said,  "Look  at  it, 
it  is  a  golden  bracelet."  "How  shall  I  place 
confidence  in  thee?"  said  the  Traveller;  and  the 
Tiger  replied:  "Formerly,  in  the  days  of  my 
101 


102  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

youth,  I  was  of  a  very  wicked  disposition,  and 
as  a  punishment  for  the  many  men  and  cattle 
I  had  murdered,  my  numerous  children  died, 
and  I  was  also  deprived  of  my  wife;  so,  at  pres- 
ent, I  am  destitute  of  relations.  This  being 
the  case,  I  was  advised,  by  a  certain  holy  per- 
son, to  practise  charity  and  other  religious 
duties,  and  I  am  now  grown  extremely  devout. 
I  perform  ablutions  regularly,  and  am  charitable. 
Why,  then,  am  I  not  worthy  of  confidence?" 

"So  far,  you  see,"  continued  the  Tiger, 
"I  have  an  interest  in  wishing  to  give  away 
to  some  one  this  golden  bracelet  from  off  my 
own  wrist;  and  as  thou  appearest  to  be  rather 
a  poor  man,  I  prefer  giving  it  to  thee;  according 
to  this  saying: 

"'Make  choice  of  the  poor,  and  bestow 
not  thy  gifts  on  others.'  Then  go,  and  hav- 
ing purified  thyself  in  this  stream,  take  the 
golden  bracelet." 

The  Traveller  no  sooner  began  to  enter  the 
river  to  purify  himself,  than  he  stuck  fast  in 
the  mud,  and  was  unable  to  escape.  The 
Tiger  told  him  he  would  help  him  out;  and 
creeping  softly  toward  him,  the  poor  man  was 
seized,  and  instantly  exclaimed  to  himself: 
"Alas!  the  career  of  my  heart  is  cut  short  by 
fate!" 


FABLES  FROM  THE  HITOPADESA    103 

But  whilst  the  unfortunate  fellow  was  thus 
meditating,  he  was  devoured  by  the  Tiger. 
Hence  also,  it  is  at  no  time  proper  to  under- 
take anything  without  examination. 

The  Jackal  and  the  Cat 

To  one  whose  family  and  profession  are  unknown,  one  should  not  give 
residence:  the  Jackal  Jarad-gava  was  killed  through  the  fault  of  a  Cat. 

ON  THE  banks  of  the  river  Bhageerathee, 
and  upon  the  mountain  Greedhra-koota,  there 
is  a  large  parkattee  tree,  in  the  hollow  of  whose 
trunk  there  dwelt  a  Jackal,  by  name  Jarad- 
gava,  who,  by  some  accident,  was  grown  blind, 
and  for  whose  support  the  different  birds  who 
roosted  upon  the  branches  of  the  same  tree 
were  wont  to  contribute  a  trifle  from  their 
own  stores,  by  which  he  existed.  It  so  fell 
out,  that  one  day  a  certain  Cat,  by  name 
Deerga-karna,;  came  there  to  prey  upon  the 
young  birds,  whom  perceiving,  the  little  nest- 
lings were  greatly  terrified,  and  began  to  be 
very  clamorous;  and  their  cries  being  heard 
by  Jarad-gava,  he  asked  who  was  coming. 
The  Cat  Deerga-karna,  too,  seeing  the  Jackal, 
began  to  be  alarmed,  and  said  to  himself: 
"Oh!  I  shall  certainly  be  killed,  for  now  that 
I  am  in  his  sight,  it  will  not  be  in  my  power 

'Long-ear 


104  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

to  escape.  However,  let  what  will  be  the 
consequence,  I  will  approach  him.  So,  having 
thus  resolved,  he  went  up  to  the  Jackal,  and 
said:  "Master,  I  salute  thee!"  "Who  art 
thou?"  demanded  the  Jackal.  Said  he,  "I 
am  a  Cat."  "Ah!  wicked  animal,"  cried  the 
Jackal,  "get  thee  at  a  distance;  for  if  thou 
dost  not,  I  will  put  thee  to  death." 

"Hear  me  for  a  moment,"  replied  Puss,  "and 
then  determine  whether  I  merit  either  to  be 
punished  or  to  be  killed ;  for  what  is  any  one, 
simply  by  birth,  to  be  punished  or  applauded? 
When  his  deeds  have  been  scrutinized,  he 
may,  indeed,  be  either  praiseworthy  or  punish- 
able." 

The  Jackal  after  this  desired  the  Cat  to  give 
some  account  of  himself,  and  he  complied  in 
the  following  words:  "I  am,"  said  he,  "in 
the  constant  habit  of  performing  ablutions  on 
the  side  of  this  river;  I  never  eat  flesh,  and  I 
lead  that  mode  of  life  which  is  called  Brah- 
ma-Charya1.  So,  as  thou  art  distinguished 
amongst  those  of  thy  own  species,  noted  for 
skill  in  religious  matters,  and  as  a  repository 
of  confidence,  and  as  the  birds  here  are  always 
speaking  before  me  in  praise  of  thy  good  quali- 
ties, I  am  come  to  hear  from  thy  mouth,  who 

'Forsaking  all  worldly  concerns  to  lead  a  godly  life. 


FABLES  FROM  THE  HITOPADESA    105 

art  so  old  in  wisdom,  the  duties  of  religion. 
Thou,  master,  art  acquainted  with  the  cus- 
toms of  life;  but  these  young  birds,  who  are  in 
ignorance,  would  fain  drive  me,  who  am  a 
stranger,  away.  The  duties  of  a  housekeeper 
are  thus  enjoined: 

'•  Hospitality  is  commanded  to  be  exercised,  even  toward  an 
enemy,  when  he  cometh  to  thine  house.  The  tree  doth  not 
withdraw  its  shade,  even  from  the  wood-cutter. 

"And    again: 

"  Some  straw,  a  room,  water,  and  in  the  fourth  place,  gentle 
words.  These  things  are  neve1*  to  be  refused  in  good  men's 
houses." 

To  all  this  the  Jackal  replied:  "Cats  have 
a  taste  for  animal  food,  and  above  is  the  resi- 
dence of  the  young  birds :  it  is  on  this  account 
I  speak  to  thee." 

The  Cat,  having  touched  his  two  ears,  and 
then  the  ground,  exclaimed:  "I,  who  have 
read  books  upon  the  duties  of  religion,  and  am 
freed  from  inordinate  desires,  have  forsaken  such 
an  evil  practice;  and,  indeed,  even  amongst 
those  who  dispute  with  one  another  about 
the  authority  of  the  Sastras,  there  are  many 
by  whom  this  sentence:  'Not  to  kill  is  a  su- 
preme duty,'  is  altogether  approved. " 

The  Cat  by  these  means  having  satisfied  the 
Jackal,  he  remained  in  the  hollow  of  the  tree 


106  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

with  him  and  passed  the  time  in  amusing  con- 
versation; and  the  Jackal  told  the  young  birds 
that  they  had  no  occasion  to  go  out  of  the  way. 

After  this,  when  many  days  had  passed,  it 
was  discovered  that  the  Cat  had,  by  degrees, 
drawn  all  the  little  birds  down  into  the  hollow  of 
the  tree,  and  there  devoured  them;  but  when 
he  found  inquiry  was  about  to  be  made  by  those 
whose  young  ones  had  been  eaten,  he  slipped 
out  of  the  hole  and  made  his  escape.  In  the 
meantime,  the  bones  of  the  young  ones  having 
been  discovered  in  the  hollow^  of  the  tree  by 
the  parent  birds,  who  had  been  searching  here 
and  there,  they  concluded  that  their  little 
ones  had  been  devoured  by  the  Jackal,  and 
so,  being  joined  by  other  birds,  they  put  him 
to  death. 

Wherefore  I  say,  "To  one  whose  family  and 
profession  are  unknown,  one  should  not  give 
residence." 

The  Greedy  Jackal 

A  hoard  should  always  be  made;  but  not  too  great  a  hoard.     A  Jackal, 
through  the  fault  of  hoarding  too  much,  was  killed  by  a  bow. 

A  CERTAIN  Huntsman,  by  name  Bhirava, 
being  fond  of  flesh,  once  upon  a  time  went  to 
hunt  in  the  forests  of  the  Vindhya  mountains 
and  having  killed  a  Deer,  as  he  was  carrying 
him  away,  he  chanced  to  see  a  wild  Boar  of 


FABLES  FROM  THE  HITOPADESA    107 

a  formidable  appearance.  So,  laying  the  Deer 
upon  the  ground,  he  wounded  the  Boar  with 
an  arrow;  but,  upon  his  approaching  him, 
the  horrid  animal  set  up  a  roar  dreadful  as  the 
thunder  of  the  clouds,  and  wounding  the 
Huntsman  in  the  groin,  he  fell  like  a  tree  cut 
off  by  the  axe.  At  the  same  time,  a  Serpent, 
of  that  species  which  is  called  Ajagara,  pressed 
by  hunger  and  wandering  about,  rose  up  and, 
bit  the  Boar,  who  instantly  fell  helpless  upon1 
him,  and  remained  upon  the  spot.  For: 

The  body  having  encountered  some  efficient  cause,  water, 
fire,  poison,  the  sword,  hunger,  sickness,  or  a  fall  from  an  emi- 
nence, is  forsaken  by  the  vital  spirits. 

In  the  meantime,  a  Jackal,  by  name  Deergha- 
rava,  prowling  about  in  search  of  prey,  dis- 
covered the  Deer,  the  Huntsman,  and  the 
Boar;  and  having  observed  them,  he  said  to 
himself:  "Here  is  a  fine  feast  prepared  for 
me;  with  their  flesh  I  shall  have  food  to  eat. 
The  Man  will  last  me  for  a  whole  month,  and 
the  Deer  and  the  Boar  for  two  more;  then  the 
Serpent  will  serve  me  a  day;  and  let  me  taste 
the  bow-string  too.  But,  in  the  first  place, 
let  me  try  that  which  is  the  least  savoury. 
Suppose,  then,  I  eat  this  catgut  line  which 
is  fastened  to  the  bow:  saying  so,  he  drew  near 
to  eat  it;  but  the  instant  he  had  bit  the  line 


108  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

in  two,  he  was  torn  asunder  by  the  spring  of 
the  bow;  and  he  was  reduced  to  the  state  of 
the  five  elements.  I  say,  therefore,  "A  hoard 
should  always  be  made;  but  not  too  great  a 
hoard." 

The  Elephant  and  the  Jackal 

That  which  cannot  be  effected  by  force  may  be  achieved  by  cunning. 
An  Elephant  was  killed  by  a  Jackal,  in  going  over  a  swampy  place. 

IN  THE  forest  Brahmaranya  there  was  an 
Elephant,  whose  name  was  Karphooratilaka,1 
who  having  been  observed  by  the  jackals,  they 
all  determined  that  if  he  could  by  any  strat- 
agem be  killed,  he  would  be  four  months' 
provisions  for  them  all.  One  of  them,  who  was 
of  exceeding  vicious  inclination  and  by  nature 
treacherous,  declared  that  he  would  engage, 
by  the  strength  of  his  own  judgment,  to  effect 
his  death.  Some  time  after,  this  deceitful 
wretch  went  up  to  the  Elephant,  and  having 
saluted  him,  said:  "Godlike  sir!  Conde- 
scend to  grant  me  an  audience."  "Who  art 
thou?"  demanded  the  Elephant,  "and  whence 
comest  thou?"  "My  name,"  replied  he,  "is 
Kshudrabuddhi,1  a  jackal,  sent  into  thy  pres- 
sence  by  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  forest, 
assembled  for  that  purpose,  to  represent  that, 

1  Marked  with  white  spots. 

1  Low-minded,  mean-spirited,  bad-hearted. 


FABLES  FROM  THE  HITOPADESA    109 

as  it  is  not  expedient  to  reside  in  so  large  a 
forest  as  this  without  a  chief,  your  Highness, 
endued  with  all  the  cardinal  virtues,  hath 
been  selected  to  be  anointed  Rajah  of  the 
Woods.  Then,  that  we  may  not  lose  the 
lucky  moment,"  continued  the  Jackal,  "be 
pleased  to  follow  quickly."  Saying  this,  he 
cocked  his  tail  and  went  away. 

The  Elephant,  whose  reason  was  perverted 
by  the  lust  of  power,  took  the  same  road  as 
the  Jackal,  and  followed  him  so  exactly  that, 
at  length,  he  stuck  fast  in  a  great  mire.  "O 
my  friend!"  cried  the  Elephant,  "what  is  to 
be  done  in  this  disaster?  I  am  sinking  in  a 
deep  mire ! " 

The  Jackal  laughed,  and  said:  "Please, 
your  divine  Highness,  take  hold  of  my  tail 
with  your  trunk,  and  get  out!  This  is  the  fruit 
of  those  words  which  thou  didst  place  con- 
fidence in." 

They    say: 

As  often  as  thou  shalt  be  deprived  of  the  society  of  the  good, 
so  often  shalt  thou  fall  into  the  company  of  knaves. 

After  a  few  days,  the  Elephant  dying  for 
want  of  food,  his  flesh  was  devoured  by  the 
Jackals.  I  say,  therefore:  "That  which  can- 
not be  effected  by  force,  may  be  achieved 
by  cunning." 


110  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Lion,  the  Mouse,  and  the  Cat 

The  master  should  never  be  rendered  free  from  apprehension  by  his 
servants;  for  a  servant  having  quieted  the  fears  of  his  master  may 
experience  the  fate  of  Dahdikarna.1 

UPON  the  mountain  Arbuda-sikhara,  there 
was  a  Lion,  whose  name  was  Mahavikrama,1 
the  tips  of  whose  mane  a  Mouse  was  wont  to 
gnaw,  as  he  slept  in  his  den.  The  noble  beast, 
having  discovered  that  his  hair  was  bitten, 
was  very  much  displeased;  and  as  he  wras 
unable  to  catch  the  offender,  who  always 
slipped  into  his  hole,  he  meditated  what  was 
best  to  be  done;  and  having  resolved,  said  he: 

"Whoso  hath  a  trifling  enemy,  who  is  not  to  be  overcome  by 
dint  of  valour,  should  employ  against  him  a  force  of  his  own 
likeness." 

With  a  review  of  this  saying,  the  Lion  re- 
paired to  the  village,  and  by  means  of  a  piece 
of  meat  thrown  into  his  hole,  with  some  diffi- 
culty caught  a  Cat,  whose  name  was  Dad- 
hikarna.  He  carried  him  home,  and  the 
Mouse  for  some  time  being  afraid  to  venture 
out,  the  Lion  remained  with  his  hair  unnipped. 
At  length,  however,  the  Mouse  was  so  oppressed 
with  hunger,  that  creeping  about  he  was  caught 
and  devoured  by  the  Cat.  The  Lion  now,  no 

1  Whose  ears  are  the  colour  of  curds. 

2  Great  courage. 


FABLES  FROM  THE  HITOPADESA    111 

longer  hearing  the  noise  of  the  Mouse,  thought 
he  had  no  further  occasion  for  the  services  of 
the  Cat,  and  so  began  to  be  sparing  of  his 
allowance;  and,  in  consequence,  poor  Puss 
pined  away  and  died  for  want.  Wherefore, 
I  say:  "The  master  should  never  be  rendered 
free  from  apprehension  by  his  servants." 

The  Poor  Woman  and  the  Bell 

It  is  not  proper  to  be  alarmed  by  a  mere  sound,  when  the  cause  of 
that  sound  is  unknown.  A  poor  woman  obtaineth  consequence  for 
discovering  the  cause  of  a  sound. 

BETWEEN  the  mountains  Sree-parvata  there 
is  a  city  called  Brahma-puree,  the  inhabitants 
of  which  used  to  believe  that  a  certain  giant, 
whom  they  called  Ghautta-Karna,  infested 
one  of  the  adjacent  hills. 

The  fact  was  thus:  A  thief,  as  he  was  run- 
ning away  with  a  Bell  he  had  stolen,  was  over- 
come and  devoured  by  a  tiger;  and  the  Bell 
falling  from  his  hand  having  been  picked  up 
by  some  monkeys,  every  now  and  then  they 
used  to  ring  it.  Now  the  people  of  the  town 
finding  that  a  man  had  been  killed  there,  and 
at  the  same  time  hearing  the  Bell,  used  to 
declare  that  the  giant  Ghautta-Karna  being 
enraged,  was  devouring  a  man,  and  ringing 
his  Bell;  so  that  the  city  was  abandoned  by 
all  the  principal  inhabitants.  At  length,  how- 


112  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

ever,  a  certain  Poor  Woman  having  considered 
the  subject,  discovered  that  the  Bell  was  rung 
by  the  monkeys. 

She  accordingly  went  to  the  Rajah,  and  said: 
"If,  divine  sir,  I  may  expect  a  very  great  reward, 
I  will  engage  to  silence  this  Ghautta-Karna." 

The  Rajah  was  exceedingly  well  pleased,  and 
gave  her  some  money.  So  having  displayed 
her  consequence  to  the  priesthood  of  the  coun- 
try, to  the  leaders  of  the  army,  and  to  all  the 
rest  of  the  people,  she  provided  such  fruits  as 
she  conceived  the  monkeys  were  fond  of,  and 
went  into  the  wood;  where  strewing  them  about, 
they  presently  quitted  the  Bell,  and  attached 
themselves  to  the  fruit.  The  Poor  Woman,  in 
the  meantime,  took  away  the  Bell,  and  repaired 
to  the  city,  where  she  became  an  object  of  adora- 
tion to  its  inhabitants.  Wherefore,  I  say:  "It 
is  not  proper  to  be  alarmed  by  a  mere  sound, 
when  the  cause  of  the  sound  is  unknown." 

The  Lion  and  the  Rabbit 

He  who  hath  sense  hath  strength.  Where  hath  he  strength  who 
wanteth  judgment?  See  how  a  Lion,  when  intoxicated  with  anger,  was 
overcome  by  a  Rabbit. 

UPON  a  certain  mountain  there  lived  a  Lion, 
whose  name  was  Durganta,1  who  was  perpetually 

1  Hard  to  go  near. 


FABLES  FROM  THE  IIITOPADESA    113 

sacrificing  animals  to  his  gods;  so  that,  at 
length,  all  the  different  species  assembled,  and, 
in  a  body,  represented  that,  as  by  his  present 
mode  of  proceeding  the  forest  would  be  cleared 
all  at  once;  if  it  pleased  his  Highness,  they 
would,  each  of  them  in  his  turn,  provide  him 
an  animal  for  his  daily  food;  and  the  Lion  gave 
his  consent  accordingly.  So  every  beast  de- 
livered his  stipulated  provision,  till  at  length, 
in  coming  to  the  Rabbit's  turn  he  began  to 
meditate  in  this  manner:  "Policy  should  be 
practised  by  him  who  would  save  his  life;  and 
I  myself  shall  lose  mine,  if  I  do  not  take  care. 
Suppose  I  lead  him  after  another  Lion?  Who 
knows  how  that  may  turn  out  for  me?  Then 
I  will  approach  him  slowly,  as  if  fatigued." 

The  Lion  by  this  time  began  to  be  very 
hungry;  so,  seeing  the  Rabbit  coming  toward 
him,  he  called  out  in  a  great  passion:  "What 
is  the  reason  thou  comest  so  late?"  "Please 
your  Highness,"  said  the  Rabbit  "as  I  was 
coming  along,  I  was  forcibly  detained  by  another 
of  your  species;  but  having  given  him  my  word 
that  I  would  return  immediately  I  came  here 
to  represent  it  to  your  Highness."  "Go 
quickly,"  said  the  Lion  in  a  rage,  "and  show 
me  where  this  vile  wrretch  may  be  found?" 

Accordingly  the  Rabbit  conducted  the  Lion 


114  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

to  the  brink  of  a  deep  well,  where  being  arrived, 
"There,"  said  the  Rabbit,  "look  down  and 
behold  him";  at  the  same  time  he  pointed  to 
the  reflected  image  of  the  Lion  in  the  water; 
who  swelling  with  pride  and  resentment,  leaped 
into  the  well,  as  he  thought,  upon  his  adver- 
sary, and  thus  put  an  end  to  his  own  life.  I 
repeat,  therefore:  "He  who  hath  sense,  hath 
strength." 

The  Birds  and  tJw  Monkeys 

A  wise  man  is  worthy  to  be  advised;  but  an  ignorant  one  never. 
Certain  birds,  having  given  advice  to  a  troop  of  monkeys,  have  their 
nests  torn  to  pieces,  and  are  obliged  to  fly  away. 

ON  THE  banks  of  the  river  Navmoda,  upon 
a  neighbouring  mountain,  there  was  a  large 
Salmalee  tree  wherein  certain  Birds  were  wont 
to  build  their  nests  and  reside,  even  during  the 
season  of  the  rains.  One  day  the  sky  being 
overcast  with  a  troop  of  thick  dark  clouds, 
there  fell  a  shower  of  rain  in  very  large  streams. 
The  Birds  seeing  a  troop  of  Monkeys  at  the 
foot  of  the  tree,  all  wet,  and  shivering  with 
cold,  called  out  to  them;  "Ho,  Monkeys!  why 
don't  you  invent  something  to  protect  you 
from  the  rain?  We  build  ourselves  nests  with 
straws  collected  with  nothing  else  but  our 
bills.  How  is  this,  that  you,  who  are  blessed 
with  hands  and  feet,  yield  to  such  sufferings?" 


FABLES  FROM  THE  HITOPADESA    115 

The  Monkeys  hearing  this,  and  understand- 
ing it  as  a  kind  of  reproach,  were  exceedingly 
irritated  and  said  amongst  themselves :  "  Those 
Birds  there,  sitting  comfortably  out  of  the 
wind  within  their  warm  nests,  are  laughing 
at  us !  So  let  them,  as  long  as  the  shower  may 
last."  In  short,  as  soon  as  the  rain  subsided, 
the  whole  troop  of  them  mounted  into  the  tree, 
where  tearing  all  the  nests  to  pieces,  the  eggs 
fell  upon  the  ground  and  were  broken.  I 
say,  therefore:  "A  wise  man  is  worthy  to  be 
advised,  but  an  ignorant  one  never." 

The  Rabbits  and  the  Elephants 

Great  things  may  be  effected  by  wise  counsel,  when  a  sovereign  enemy 
may  be  too  powerful.  Certain  Rabbits  were  enabled  to  live  in  comfort, 
through  the  policy  of  one  of  their  brethren. 

ONCE  upon  a  time,  for  want  of  rain  in  due 
season,  a  troop  of  Elephants  being  greatly 
distressed  for  water,  addressed  their  chief  in 
these  words:  "What  resource  have  we,  except 
in  that  hollow  sinking  ground  inhabited  by  those 
little  animals !  but  deprived  of  that  too,  whither, 
sir,  shall  we  go?  What  shall  we  do?" 

Upon  hearing  their  complaints,  their  chief, 
after  travelling  with  them  a  great  way,  dis- 
covered a  fountain  of  clear  water.  But,  as 
many  Rabbits  who  happened  to  be  in  their 


116  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

burrows  were  crushed  to  death  under  the  feet 
of  so  many  Elephants  trampling  over  their 
warren,  at  length,  one  of  them,  reflected  in 
this  manner:  "This  troop  of  Elephants,  op- 
pressed with  thirst,  will  be  coming  here  every 
day  to  drink,  and,  at  length,  our  whole  race 
will  be  destroyed!"  But  an  old  buck  said  to 
him.  "Brother,  don't  be  uneasy;  for  I  am 
going  to  prevent  what  thou  dreadest."  Saying 
which,  he  set  off  to  try  how  he  could  oppose 
them;  but  as  he  went  along,  he  began  to  con- 
sider how  he  should  approach  so  formidable 
a  troop;  "for,"  observed  he,  "they  say: 

'  An  elephant  killeth  even  by  touching,  a  serpent  even  by 
smelling,  a  king  even  by  ruling,  and  a  wicked  man  by  laugh- 
ing at  one.' 

"Wherefore,  I  will  mount  the  summit  of  a 
rock  to  address  the  head  of  the  troop." 

This  being  put  in  execution  accordingly, 
the  chief  Elephant  asked  him  who  he  was,  and 
whence  he  came.  "I  am/'  he  replied,  "an 
ambassador  sent  here  by  the  god  Chandra." 
"Declare  the  purport  of  thy  commission," 
said  the  Elephant.  "Sir,"  replied  the  Rabbit, 
"as  ambassadors,  even  when  the  weapons  of 
war  are  lifted  up,  speak  not  otherwise  than 
for  the  benefit  of  their  State;  and  although 
they  speak  boldly  according  as  it  is  their  advan- 


FABLES  FROM  THE  HITOPADESA    117 

i 

tage,  they  are  not  to  be  put  to  death;  then  I 
will  declare  what  are  the  commands  of  the  god 
Chandra.  He  bade  me  say,  that  in  driving 
away  and  destroying  the  Rabbits  who  are 
appointed  to  guard  the  fountain  which  is  conse- 
crated to  that  duty,  you  have  done  ill;  'for,' 
said  he,  '  they  are  my  guards  and  it  is  notorious 
that  the  figure  of  a  Rabbit  is  my  emblem.'" 

The  head  Elephant,  upon  hearing  this  became 
greatly  alarmed,  declared  that  they  had  offended 
through  ignorance,  and  would  never  go  to  the 
fountain  again. 

"If  this  be  your  resolution,"  said  the  ambas- 
sador, "go  this  once,  and  make  your  submission 
before  the  diety  himself,  whom  you  will  see  in 
the  fountain,  quite  agitated  with  anger;  and 
when  you  have  pacified  him,  you  may  depart." 

Accordingly,  as  soon  as  it  was  night,  the 
ambassador  Vijaya  having  conducted  the  chief 
of  the  Elephants  to  the  fountain,  there  showed 
him  the  image  of  the  moon,  trembling,  as  it 
were,  upon  the  smooth  surface  of  the  water 
and  when  he  had  made  him  bow  down  to  it, 
in  token  of  submission,  he  said:  "Please 
your  divinity!  What  hath  been  done  having 
been  done  through  ignorance,  I  pray  thee 
pardon  them!"  and  upon  saying  this,  he  caused 
the  Elephant  to  depart,  I  repeat,  therefore, 


118  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"Great  things  may  be  effected  by  wise  counsel, 
when  a  sovereign  enemy  may  be  too  powerful.'* 

The  Blue  Jackal 

The  fool  who  forsaketh  his  own  party,  and  delighteth  to  dwell  with 
the  opposite  side  may  be  killed  by  them;  as  was  the  case  with  the 
Blue  Jackal 

A  CERTAIN  Jackal,  as  he  was  roaming  about 
the  borders  of  a  town,  just  as  his  inclinations 
led  him,  fell  into  a  dyer's  vat; l  but  being  unable 
to  get  out  in  the  morning  he  feigned  himself 
dead.  At  length,  the  master  of  the  vat,  which 
was  filled  with  indigo,  came,  and  seeing  a 
Jackal  lying  with  his  legs  uppermost,  his  eyes 
closed,  and  his  teeth  bare,  concluded  that  he 
was  dead,  and  so,  taking  him  out,  he  carried 
him  a  good  way  from  the  town,  and  there  left 
him.  The  sly  animal  instantly  got  up,  and 
ran  into  the  woods;  when,  observing  that  his 
coat  was  turned  blue,  he  meditated  in  this 
manner:  "I  am  now  of  the  finest  colour! 
what  great  exaltation  may  I  not  bring  about 
for  myself?"  Saying  this,  he  called  a  number 
of  Jackals  together,  and  addressed  them  in 
the  following  words:  "Know  that  I  have 
lately  been  sprinkled  king  of  the  forests,  by 
the  hands  of  the  goddess  herself  who  presides 

'A  dyer's  vat,  in  Hindostan,  is  a  large  pan  sunk  in  the  ground,  often 
in  the  little  court  before  the  dyer's  house. 


FABLES  FROM  THE  HITOPADESA    119 

over  these  woods,  with  a  water  drawn  from  a 
variety  of  choice  herbs.  Observe  my  colour, 
and  henceforward  let  every  business  be  trans- 
acted according  to  my  orders." 

The  rest  of  the  Jackals,  seeing  him  of  such  a 
fine  complexion,  prostrated  themselves  before 
him,  and  said:  "According  as  your  Highness 
commands!"  By  this  step  he  made  himself 
honoured  by  his  own  relations,  and  so  gained 
the  supreme  power  over  those  of  his  own  species, 
as  well  as  all  the  other  inhabitants  of  the 
forests.  But  after  a  while,  finding  himself 
surrounded  by  a  levee  of  the  first  quality,  such 
as  the  tiger  and  the  like,  he  began  to  look  down 
upon  his  relations ;  and,  at  length,  he  kept  them 
at  a  distance.  A  certain  old  Jackal  perceiving 
that  his  brethren  were  very  much  cast  down 
at  this  behaviour,  cried:  "Do  not  despair! 
If  it  continues  thus,  this  imprudent  friend  of 
ours  will  force  us  to  be  revenged.  Let  me 
alone  to  contrive  his  downfall.  The  lion,  and 
the  rest  who  pay  him  court,  are  taken  by  his 
outward  appearance;  and  they  obey  him  as  their 
king,  because  they  are  not  aware  that  he  is 
nothing  but  a  Jackal:  do  something  then  by 
which  he  may  be  found  out.  Let  this  plan 
be  pursued:  Assemble  all  of  you  in  a  body 
about  the  close  of  the  evening,  and  set  up  one 


120  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

general  howl  in  his  hearing;  and  I'll  warrant 
you,  the  natural  disposition  of  his  species  will 
incline  him  to  join  in  the  cry  for: 

'  Whatever  may  be  the  natural  propensity  of  any  one  is 
very  hard  to  be  overcome.  If  a  dog  were  made  king,  would 
he  not  gnaw  his  shoe  straps?  ' 

"And  thus,  the  tiger  discovering  that  he  is 
nothing  but  a  Jackal,  will  presently  put  him 
to  death." 

In  short,  the  plan  was  executed,  and  the 
event  was  just  as  it  had  been  foretold.  I 
repeat,  therefore:  "The  fool  who  forsake th  his 
own  party  and  delighteth  to  dwell  with  the 
opposite  side,  may  be  killed  by  them." 

The  Mouse  Who  Became  a  Tiger 

One  cf  low  degree,  having  obtained  a  worthy  station,  seeketh  to 
destroy  his  master;  like  the  mouse,  who  having  been  raised  to  the  state 
of  a  Tiger,  went  to  kill  the  Hermit. 

IN  A  certain  forest,  there  once  dwelt  a 
Hermit  whose  name  was  Maha-tapa.  One 
day  seeing  a  young  Mouse  fall  from  the  mouth 
of  a  crow  near  his  hermitage,  out  of  compassion 
he  took  it  up  and  reared  it  with  broken  particles 
of  rice.  He  now  observed  that  the  cat  was 
seeking  to  destroy  it;  so,  by  the  sacred  powers 
of  a  saint,  he  metamorphosed  his  Mouse  into 
a  cat;  but  his  cat  being  afraid  of  his  dog,  he 


FABLES  FROM  THE  HITOPADESA    121 

changed  her  into  a  dog;  and  the  dog  being  ter- 
rified at  the  tiger,  at  length  he  was  transformed 
into  a  Tiger.  The  holy  man  now  regarded 
the  Tiger  as  no  way  superior  to  his  Mouse. 
But  the  people  who  came  to  visit  the  Hermit, 
used  to  tell  one  another  that  the  Tiger  which 
they  saw  there  had  been  made  so  by  the  power 
of  the  saint,  from  a  Mouse;  and  this  being  over- 
heard by  the  Tiger,  he  was  very  uneasy,  and 
said  to  himself:  "As  long  as  this  Hermit 
is  alive,  the  disgraceful  story  of  my  former 
state  will  be  brought  to  my  ears";  saying 
which  he  went  to  kill  his  protector;  but  as  the 
holy  man  penetrated  his  design  with  his  super- 
natural eye,  he  reduced  him  to  his  former 
state  of  a  Mouse.  I  repeat,  therefore:  "One 
of  low  degree,  having  obtained  a  worthy  station, 
may  seek  to  destroy  his  master." 

The  Brahmin  and  the  Goat 

He  who,  judging  by  what  passeth  in  his  own  breast,  believeth  a 
knave  to  be  a  person  of  veracity,  is  deceived;  as  the  Brahmin  was  con- 
cerning his  Goat. 

IN  A  certain  xorest,  a  Brahmin,  having 
determined  to  make  an  offering,  went  to  a 
neighbouring  village  and  purchased  a  Goat, 
which  having  thrown  across  his  shoulder,  he 
turned  toward  home.  As  he  was  travelling 


122  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

along,  he  was  perceived  by  three  thieves.  "If," 
said  they,  "we  could  by  some  artifice  get  the 
Goat  from  that  man,  it  would  be  a  great  proof 
of  our  address." 

Saying  this,  they  agreed  upon  their  strata- 
gem, and  executed  it  in  this  manner:  They 
stationed  themselves  before  the  Brahmin,  and 
sat  down  under  the  trees  in  the  road  which 
led  to  his  habitation,  till  he  should  come  up  to 
them.  Soon  after,  he  was  accosted  by  one  of 
them  in  this  manner:  "Is  not  that  a  dog? 
Brahmin,  what  is  the  reason  thou  carriest  it 
upon  thy  shoulder?"  The  Brahmin  replied: 
"No,  it  is  not  a  dog;  it  is  a  Goat,  which  I  have 
purchased  to  make  an  offering  of."  About 
a  mile  farther  on  he  met  another  of  them,  who 
repeating  the  same  question,  he  took  the  Goat 
from  his  shoulder,  and  putting  it  upon  the 
ground,  examined  it  again  and  again;  and  at 
length,  replacing  it  upon  his  shoulder,  he  went 
on,  quite  staggered  as  it  were,  for: 

The  minds  even  of  good  men  are  staggered  by  the  arguments 
of  the  wicked;  but  those  who  place  confidence  in  them  may 
suffer  by  it. 

At  length  the  Brahmin,  having  heard  the 
third  thief,  like  the  former  two,  insist  upon 
it  that  he  had  a  dog  upon  his  shoulder,  was 
convinced  that  it  was  indeed  a  dog;  and  so, 


FABLES  FROM  THE  HITOPADESA  123 

leaving  his  Goat  behind  him,  which  the  thieves 
presently  took  away  and  made  a  feast  of,  the 
good  man  washed  himself  and  went  home. 
Whence,  I  say,  "He  who,  judging  by  what 
passeth  in  his  own  breast,  believeth  a  knave 
to  be  a  person  of  veracity,  is  deceived." 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA 

"  These  simple  children's  stories  have  livea  on, 
and  maintained  their  place  of  honour  and  their 
undisputed  sway  in  every  schoolroom  of  the 
East  and  every  nursery  of  the  West" 

F.  MAX  MULLER 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA 

The  Lion,  the  Fox,  and  the  Story-teller 

ALIGN  who  was  the  king  of  a  great 
forest  once  said  to  his  subjects:  "I 
want  some  one  among  you  to  tell  me 
stories  one  after  another  without  ceasing.  If 
you  fail  to  find  somebody  who  can  so  amuse 
me,  you  will  all  be  put  to  death." 

In  the  East  there  is  a  proverb  which  says: 
"The  king  kills  when  he  will,"  so  the  animals 
were  in  great  alarm. 

The  Fox  said:  "Fear  not;  I  shall  save  you 
all.  Tell  the  king  the  Story-teller  is  ready  to 
come  to  court  when  ordered."  So  the  animals 
had  orders  to  send  the  Story-teller  at  once 
to  the  presence.  The  Fox  bowed  respectfully, 
and  stood  before  the  king,  who  said:  "So  you 
are  to  tell  us  stories  without  ceasing?" 

"Yes,  your  Majesty,"  said  the  Fox. 

"Then  begin,"  said  the  Lion. 

"But  before  I  do  so,"  said  the  Fox,  "I  would 
like  to  know  what  your  Majesty  means  by  a 
story." 

127 


128  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"Why,"  said  the  Lion,  "a  narrative  containg 
ing  some  interesting  event  or  fact." 

"Just  so,"  said  the  Fox,  and  began:  "There 
was  once  a  fisherman  who  went  to  sea  with 
a  huge  net,  and  spread  it  far  and  wide.  A 
great  many  fish  got  into  it.  Just  as  the  fisher- 
man was  about  to  draw  the  net  the  coils  snapped. 
A  great  opening  was  made.  First  one  fish 
escaped."  Then  the  Fox  stopped. 

"What  then?"  said  the  Lion. 

"Then  two  escaped,"  said  the  Fox. 

"What  then?"  asked  the  impatient  Lion. 

"Then  three  escaped,"  said  the  Fox.  Thus, 
as  often  as  the  Lion  repeated  his  query,  the  Fox 
increased  the  number  by  one,  and  said  as  many 
escaped.  The  Lion  was  vexed,  and  said:  "Why 
you  are  telling  me  nothing  new!" 

"I  wish  that  your  majesty  may  not  forget 
your  royal  word,"  said  the  Fox.  "Each  event 
occurred  by  itself,  and  each  lot  that  escaped 
was  different  from  the  rest." 

" But  wherein  is  the  wonder?"  said  the  Lion 

"Why,  your  majesty,  what  can  be  more 
wonderful  than  for  Fish  to  escape  in  lots,  each 
exceeding  the  other  by  one?" 

"I  am  bound  by  my  word,"  said  the  Lion, 
"else  I  would  see  your  carcass  stretched  on 
the  ground." 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA  129 

The  Fox  replied  in  a  whisper :  "//  tyrants  that 
desire  things  impossible  are  not  at  least  bound  by 
their  own  word,  their  subjects  can  find  nothing 
to  bind  them." 

The  Fox  in  the  Well 

A  Fox  fell  into  a  well,  and  was  holding  hard 
to  some  roots  at  the  side  of  it,  just  above  the 
water.  A  Wolf  who  was  passing  by  saw  him, 
and  said,  "Hollo,  Reynard;  after  all  you  have 
fallen  into  a  well!" 

"But  not  without  a  purpose,  and  not  without 
the  means  of  getting  out  of  it,"  said  the  Fox. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  said  the  Wolf. 

"Why,"  said  the  Fox,  "there  is  a  drought 
all  over  the  country  now,  and  the  water  in  this 
well  is  the  only  means  of  appeasing  the  thirst 
of  the  thousands  that  live  in  this  neighbourhood. 
They  held  a  meeting,  and  requested  me  to 
keep  the  water  from  going  down  lower;  so  I 
am  holding  it  up  for  the  public  good." 

"What  will  be  your  reward?"  asked  the 
Wolf. 

"They  will  give  me  a  pension,  and  save  me 
the  trouble  of  going  about  every  day  in  quest 
of  food,  not  to  speak  of  innumerable  other 
privileges  that  will  be  granted  me.  Further, 
I  am  not  to  stay  here  all  day.  I  have  asked 


130  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

a  kinsman  of  mine,  to  whom  I  have  communi- 
cated the  secret  of  holding  up  the  water,  to 
relieve  me  from  time  to  time.  Of  course  he 
will  also  get  a  pension,  and  have  other  privi- 
leges. I  expect  him  here  shortly." 

"Ah,  Reynard,  may  I  relieve  you,  then? 
May  I  hope  to  get  a  pension,  and  other  privi- 
leges? You  know  what  a  sad  lot  is  mine, 
especially  in  winter." 

"Certainly,"  said  the  Fox,  "but  you  must 
get  a  long  rope,  that  I  may  come  up  and  let 
you  down." 

So  the  Wolf  got  a  rope.  Up  came  the  Fox, 
and  down  went  the  Wolf;  when  the  former 
observed,  with  a  laugh,  "My  dear  sir,  you  may 
remain  there  till  doomsday,  or  till  the  owner 
of  the  well  throws  up  your  carcass,"  and  left 
the  place. 

"Alas!"  said  the  Wolf,  when  it  was  too  late, 
"greed  hath  its  meedl" 

The  Fawn  and  the  Little  Tiger 

A  FAWN  met  a  little  Tiger,  and  said:  "What 
fine  stripes  you  have!" 

The  little  Tiger  said:  "What  fine  spots  you 
have!" 

Then  the  Fawn  said:  "It  would  be  such  a 
nice  thing  if  you  and  I  were  to  live  together 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA  131 

as  friends.  We  might  then  roam  through  the 
woods  as  we  like,  and  be  so  happy!" 

"I  think  so  too,"  said  the  Tiger. 

The  two  joined  hands,  and  went  out  for  a 
long  walk.  It  was  breakfast  time.  The  Fawn 
saw  some  fine  grass  in  the  lawn,  and  said  to 
himself:  "One  should  first  see  his  friend  fed 
and  then  feed."  So  he  turned  to  the  Tiger  and 
said,  "Will  you  have  some  of  this  fine  grass  for 
your  breakfast?" 

The  Tiger  put  his  nose  to  the  grass  but  could 
not  bring  himself  to  feed  upon  it,  because  it 
was  against  his  nature;  so  he  replied,  "I  am 
so  sorry,  I  cannot  eat  it!" 

Then  the  Fawn  said:  "Allow  me  to  go  home 
for  one  moment  and  ask  mamma  for  something 
that  would  suit  you  for  breakfast." 

So  the  Fawn  went  home  and  told  the  Hind 
of  the  happy  friendship  he  had  formed,  and  of 
all  that  had  happened  since. 

The  Hind  replied,  "Child,  how  lucky  it  is 
that  you  have  come  away!  You  must  know 
the  Tiger  is  the  most  deadly  enemy  we  have 
in  the  woods." 

At  these  words  the  Fawn  drew  near  to  his 
dam  and  trembled. 

The  Hind  said:  "It  is  indeed  lucky  to  get 
away  from  the  wicked  at  the  first  hint!'9 


132  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Fox  and  the  Villagers 

A  Fox  that  had  long  been  the  dread  of  the 
village  poultry  yard  was  one  day  found  lying 
breathless  in  a  field.  The  report  went  abroad 
that,  after  all,  he  had  been  caught  and  killed 
by  some  one.  In  a  moment,  everybody  in  the 
village  came  out  to  see  the  dead  Fox.  The 
village  Cock,  with  all  his  hens  and  chicks,  was 
also  there,  to  enjoy  the  sight. 

The  Fox  then  got  up,  and,  shaking  off  his 
drowsiness,  said:  "I  ate  a  number  of  hens  and 
chicks  last  night;  hence  I  must  have  slumbered 
longer  than  usual." 

The  Cock  counted  his  hens  and  chicks,  and 
found  a  number  wanting.  "Alas!"  said  he, 
"how  is  it  I  did  not  know  of  it?" 

"My  dear  sir,"  said  the  Fox,  as  he  retreated 
to  the  wood,  "it  was  last  night  I  had  a  good 
meal  on  your  hens  and  chicks,  yet  you  did  not 
know  of  it.  A  moment  ago  they  found  me 
lying  in  the  field,  and  you  knew  of  it  at  once. 
Ill  news  travels  fast!" 

Tinsel  and  Lightning 

A  PIECE  of  Tinsel  on  a  rock  once  said  to  a 
Pebble:  "You  see  how  bright  I  am!  I  am  by 
birth  related  to  the  lightning." 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA  133 

"Indeed!"  said  the  Pebble;  "then  accept 
my  humble  respects." 

Some  time  after,  a  flash  of  lightning  struck 
the  rock,  and  the  Tinsel  lost  all  its  brilliancy 
by  the  scorching  effects  of  the  flash. 

"Where  is  your  brilliancy  now?"  said  the 
Pebble. 

"Oh,  it  is  gone  to  the  skies,"  said  the  Tinsel, 
"for  I  have  lent  it  to  the  lightning  that  came 
down  a  moment  ago  to  borrow  it  of  me." 

"Dear  me!"  said  the  Pebble;  "how  many 
fibs  doth  good  bragging  need!" 

The  Glow-worm  and  the  Daw 

A  JACKDAW  once  ran  up  to  a  Glow-worm 
and  was  about  to  seize  him.  "  Wait  a  moment, 
good  friend,"  said  the  Worm;  "and  you  shall 
hear  of  something  to  your  advantage." 

"Ah!  what  is  it?"  said  the  Daw. 

"  I  am  but  one  of  the  many  Glow-worms  that 
live  in  this  forest.  If  you  wish  to  have  them 
all,  follow  me,"  said  the  Glow-worm. 

"Certainly!"   said  the  Daw. 

Then  the  Glow-worm  led  him  to  a  place  in 
the  wood  where  a  fire  had  been  kindled  by  some 
woodmen,  and  pointing  to  the  sparks  flying 
about,  said:  "There  you  find  the  Glow-worms 
warming  themselves  around  a  fire.  When  you 


;  134  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

have  done  with  them,  I  will  show  you  some  more, 
at  a  distance  from  this  place." 

The  Daw  darted  at  the  sparks,  and  tried  to 
swallow  some  of  them;  but  his  mouth  being 
I  burnt  by  the  attempt,  he  ran  away  exclaiming, 
j."  Ah,  the  Glow-worm  is  a  dangerous  little  crea- 
[ture!" 

Said  the  Glow-worm  with  pride:  "Wickedness 
yields  to  wisdom!" 

The  Lion  and  the  Gadfly 

ONCE  a  Lion  was  sleeping  in  his  den  at  the 
foot  of  a  great  mountain  when  a  Gadfly  that  had 
been  sipping  the  blood  from  his  mouth  bit 
him  severely.  The  Lion  started  up  with  a 
roar,  and  catching  the  Fly  in  his  huge  paws, 
cried:  "Villain,  you  are  at  my  mercy!  How 
shall  I  punish  your  impudence?" 

"Sire,"  said  the  Fly,  "if  you  would  pardon 
me  now,  and  let  me  live,  I  shall  be  able  to  show 
ere  long  how  grateful  I  am  to  you." 

"Indeed!"  said  the  Lion;  "who  ever  heard 
of  a  Gadfly  helping  a  Lion?  But  still  I  admire 
your  presence  of  mind  and  grant  your  life." 

Some  time  after,  the  Lion,  having  made 
great  havoc  on  the  cattle  of  a  neighbouring 
village,  was  snoring  away  in  his  den  after  a 
heavy  meal.  The  village  hunters  approached 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA  135 

with  the  object  of  surrounding  him  and  putting 
an  end  to  his  depredations. 

The  Fly  saw  them,  and  hurrying  into  the 
den,  bit  the  Lion.  He  started  up  with  a  roar 
as  before,  and  cried:  "Villain,  you  will  get  no 
pardon  this  time!" 

"Sire,"   said   the   Fly,  "the  village 
are  on  Iheir  way  to  your  den;  you  can't  tarry 
a  moment  here  without  being  surrounded  and 
killed." 

"Saviour  of  my  life!"  cried  the  lion  as  he 
ran  up  the  mountain.  "There  is  nothing  like 
forgiving,  for  it  enables  the  humblest  to  help  the 
highest" 

The  Sunling 

IN  THE  good  old  days  a  Clown  in  the  East, 
on  a  visit  to  a  city  kinsman,  while  at  dinner 
pointed  to  a  burning  candle  and  asked  what 
it  was.  The  city  man  said,  in  jest,  it  was  a 
Sunling,  or  one  of  the  children  of  the  sun. 

The  Clown  thought  that  it  was  something 
rare;  so  he  waited  for  an  opportunity,  and  hid 
it  in  a  chest  of  drawers  close  by.  Soon  the 
chest  caught  fire,  then  the  curtains  by  its  side, 
then  the  room,  then  the  whole  house. 

After  the  flames  had  been  put  down,  the  city 
man  and  the  Clown  went  into  the  burnt  building 
to  see  what  remained.  The  Clown  turned  over 


136  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

the  embers  of  the  chest  of  drawers.  The  city 
man  asked  what  he  was  seeking  for.  The  Clown 
said:  "It  is  in  this  chest  that  I  hid  the  bright 
Sunling;  I  wish  to  know  if  he  has  survived  the 
flames." 

"Alas,"  said  the  city  man,  who  now  found 
out  the  cause  of  all  the  mischief,  "Never  jest 
with  fools!" 

The  Despot  and  the  Wag 

A  DESPOT  in  the  East  wished  to  have  a  great 
name  as  a  very  munificent  prince,  so  he  gave 
Jarge  presents  to  every  one  of  note  that  came 
to  his  court,  but  at  the  same  time  his  officers 
had  secret  orders  to  waylay  the  recipients  of 
his  gifts  and  recover  them. 

In  this  manner  many  a  man  had  been  re- 
warded and  plundered.  Once  a  wag  came  to 
court,  and  amused  every  one  by  his  drolleries. 
The  King  gave  him  a  great  many  presents, 
including  a  horse.  After  taking  leave  of  the 
King  and  his  courtiers,  the  Wag  bundled  up 
the  presents  and  put  them  over  his  shoulders, 
and  mounting  the  horse,  facing  the  tail,  was 
going  out.  The  King  asked  him  why  he  acted 
in  that  manner. 

"Sire,"  said  the  Wag,  "simply  to  see  if  your 
officers  were  coming  behind,  that  I  may  at  once 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA  137 

hand  over  the  bundle  to  them  and  go  about  my 
business." 

The  Despot  was  abashed,  and  stopped  giving 
any  more  presents,  saying:  "Giving  is  but 
giving  in  vain,  when  we  give  to  take  again.3' 

The  Crane  and  the  Fool 

IN  THE  East  there  lived  a  Fool,  who  went  one 
day  to  his  fields  and  said:  "I  sowed  a  month 
ago;  should  the  crops  stand  two  months  more, 
I  shall  get  three  hundred  bushels  of  corn.  But 
I  am  in  a  hurry,  so  if  I  should  reap  now,  I 
dare  say  I  shall  have  one  hundred  bushels  at 
least." 

A  Crane  who  heard  his  words  said:  "If  I 
were  you,  I  should  have  all  the  three  hundred 
bushels  this  very  day." 

"How?"   said  the  Fool. 

"Why,"said  the  Crane,  "you  stored  up  water 
in  the  tank  to  feed  the  crops  for  three  months. 
A  month  has  elapsed,  so  water  enough  for  two 
months  more  remains  in  the  tank.  Should 
you  open  the  sluices  and  let  all  the  wrater  flow 
into  the  fields,  you  will  have  all  the  corn  at 
once." 

"Are  you  sure  I  shall  have  all  the  corn  at 
once?"  said  the  Fool. 

"Oh,   yes,"   said  the   Crane,   "there  is  not 


138  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

the  slightest  doubt.  My  geographical  knowl- 
edge is  extensive,  for  I  have  travelled  over  a 
great  part  of  the  world;  so  you  may  depend  on 
my  wide  knowledge  and  experience." 

The  Fool  then  let  all  the  water  flow  into  the 
fields.  The  Crane  invited  his  kindred,  and 
they  together  ate  all  the  big  fish  left  in  the  tank 
first,  and  then,  hovering  over  the  fields,  picked 
up  all  the  small  fish  that  had  gone  out  with 
the  water.  A  great  portion  of  the  crops  was 
swept  away;  what  remained  was  soon  buried 
in  the  mud. 

The  Fool  sat  on  the  bank  of  the  lake  and 
wept,  saying:  "The  Crane's  geography  ruined 
me." 

"My  friend,"  said  the  Crane,  "my  geography 
was  as  good  as  your  arithmetic.  It  is  all  the 
same  whether  you  fall  into  the  ditch  from  this 
side  or  that!" 

The  Lion  and  the  Goat 

A  LION  was  eating  up  one  after  another  the 
animals  of  a  certain  country.  One  day  an  old 
Goat  said:  "We  must  put  a  stop  to  this.  I 
have  a  plan  by  which  he  may  be  sent  away  from 
this  part  of  the  country." 

"Pray  act  up  to  it  at  once,"  said  the  other 
animals. 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA  139 

The  old  Goat  laid  himself  down  in  a  cave 
on  the  roadside,  with  his  flowing  beard  and 
long  curved  horns.  The  Lion  on  his  way  to 
the  village  saw  him,  and  stopped  at  the  mouth 
of  the  cave. 

"So  you  have  come,  after  all,"  said  the  Goat. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  asked  the  Lion. 

"Why,  I  have  long  been  lying  in  this  cave. 
I  have  eaten  up  one  hundred  elephants,  a 
hundred  tigers,  a  thousand  wolves,  and  ninety- 
nine  lions.  One  more  lion  has  been  wanting. 
I  have  waited  long  and  patiently.  Heaven 
has,  after  all,  been  kind  to  me,"  said  the  Goat, 
and  shook  his  horns  and  his  beard,  and  made  a 
start  as  if  he  were  about  to  spring  upon  the 
Lion. 

The  latter  said  to  himself:  "This  animal 
looks  like  a  Goat,  but  it  does  not  talk  like  one, 
so  it  is  very  likely  some  wicked  spirit  in  this 
shape.  Prudence  often  serves  us  better  than 
valour,  so  for  the  present  I  shall  return  to  the 
wood,"  and  he  turned  back. 

The  Goat  rose  up  and,  advancing  to  the 
mouth  of  the  cave,  said,  "Will  you  come 
back  to-morrow?" 

"Never  again,"  said  the  Lion. 

"Do  you  think  I  shall  be  able  to  see  you,  at 
least,  in  the  wood  to-morrow?" 


140  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"Neither  in  the  wood,  nor  in  this  neighbour- 
hood any  more/'  said  the  Lion,  and  running  to 
the  forest,  soon  left  it  with  his  kindred. 

The  animals  in  the  country,  not  hearing  him 
roar  any  more,  gathered  around  the  Goat,  and 
said:  "The  wisdom  of  one  doth  save  a  host." 

The  Man  and  His  Piece  of  Cloth 

A  MAN  in  the  East,  where  they  do  not  re- 
quire as  much  clothing  as  in  colder  climates, 
gave  up  all  worldly  concerns  and  retired  to  a 
wood,  where  he  built  a  hut  and  lived  in  it. 

His  only  clothing  was  a  Piece  of  Cloth  which 
he  wore  round  his  waist.  But,  as  ill-luck  would 
have  it,  rats  were  plentiful  in  the  wood,  so 
he  had  to  keep  a  cat.  The  cat  required  milk 
to  feed  it,  so  a  cow  had  to  be  kept.  The 
cow  required  tending,  so  a  cowboy  was  em- 
ployed. The  boy  required  a  house  to  live  in, 
so  a  house  was  built  for  him.  To  look  after 
the  house,  a  maid  had  to  be  engaged.  To  pro- 
vide company  for  the  maid,  a  few  more  houses 
had  to  be  built,  and  people  invited  to  live  in 
them.  In  this  manner  a  little  township  sprang 
up. 

The  man  said:  "The  farther  we  seek  to  go 
from  the  world  and  its  cares,  the  more  they  mul- 
tiply!" 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA  141 

The  Tiger,  the  Fox,  and  the  Hunters 

A  Fox  was  once  caught  in  a  trap.  A  hungry 
Tiger  saw  him  and  said,  "So  you  are  here!" 

"Only  on  your  account,"  said  the  Fox,  in 
a  whisper. 

"How  so?"  said  the  Tiger. 

"Why,  you  were  complaining  you  could 
not  get  men  to  eat,  so  I  got  into  this  net  to-day, 
that  you  may  have  the  men  when  they  come 
to  take  me,"  said  the  Fox,  and  gave  a  hint 
that  if  the  Tiger  would  wait  a  while  in  a  thicket 
close  by,  he  would  point  out  the  men  to  him. 

"May  I  depend  upon  your  word?"  said  the 
Tiger. 

"Certainly,"  said  the  Fox. 

The  hunters  came,  and,  seeing  the  Fox  in 
the  net,  said:  "So  you  are  here!" 

"Only  on  your  account,"  said  the  Fox,  in  a 
whisper. 

"How  so?"  said  the  men. 

"Why,  you  were  complaining  you  could 
not  get  at  the  Tiger  that  has  been  devouring 
your  cattle.  I  got  into  this  net  to-day  that 
you  may  have  him.  As  I  expected,  he  came  to 
eat  me  up,  and  is  in  yonder  thicket,"  said  the 
Fox,  and  gave  a  hint  that  if  they  would  take 
him  out  of  the  trap  he  would  point  out  the  Tiger. 


142  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"May  we  depend  upon  your  word?"  said  the 
men. 

"Certainly,"  said  the  Fox,  while  the  men 
went  with  him  in  a  circle  to  see  that  he  did  not 
escape. 

Then  the  Fox  said  to  the  Tiger  and  the  men: 
"Sir  Tiger,  here  are  the  men;  gentlemen,  here 
is  the  Tiger." 

The  men  left  the  Fox  and  turned  to  the  Tiger. 
The  former  beat  a  hasty  retreat  to  the  wood, 
saying,  "I  have  kept  my  promise  to  both;  now 
you  may  settle  it  between  yourselves." 

The  Tiger  exclaimed,  when  it  was  too  late: 
"Alas!  what  art  for  a  double  part?" 

The  Hare  and  the  Pig 

A  HARE  and  a  Pig  once  agreed  to  leap  over  a 
ditch.  The  Hare  went  a  great  way,  and  fell 
into  it,  just  short  by  an  inch.  The  Pig  went 
some  way  and  fell  into  it;  but  far  behind  the 
Hare.  Yet  they  were  eager  to  know  which  of 
them  leapt  more,  and  was  therefore  the  better 
animal. 

So  they  said  to  a  Fox,  who  had  been  watching 
the  race:  "Will  you  tell  us  which  of  us  is 
superior,  and  which  inferior,  in  the  race?" 

The  Fox  said:  "Both  in  the  ditch:  cant  say 
which!" 


'"WHY,  WAS  IT  NOT  FOOLISH  OF  ME  TO  COUNT  THE  STABS  IN 
THE  SKY,  WHEN  I  COULD  HAVE  COUNTED  THE  STARS  IN  YOUB 
BRILLIANT  PLUMAGE  TO  BETTER  ADVANTAGE?'  SAID  THE  FOX*' 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA  143 

The  Peacock  and  the  Fox 

A  Fox,  who  had  an  eye  on  a  Peacock,  was 
one  day  standing  hi  a  field  with  his  face  turned 
up  to  the  sky. 

"Reynard,"  said  the  Peacock,  "what  have 
you  been  doing? " 

"Oh,  I  have  been  counting  the  stars,"  said 
the  Fox. 

"How  many  are  they?"  said  the  Peacock. 

"About  as  many  as  the  fools  on  earth," 
said  the  Fox. 

"But  which  do  you  think  is  the  greater,  the 
number  of  the  stars  or  of  the  fools?"  asked  the 
Peacock. 

"If  you  put  it  so,  I  should  say  the  fools  are 
more  by  one,"  said  the  Fox. 

"Who  is  that  one?"  said  the  Peacock. 

"Why,  my  own  silly  self!"  said  the  Fox. 

"How  are  you  silly,  Reynard?"  questioned 
the  Peacock. 

"Why,  was  it  not  foolish  of  me  to  count  the 
stars  in  the  sky,  when  I  could  have  counted  the 
stars  in  your  brilliant  plumage  to  better  advan- 
tage?" said  the  Fox. 

"No,  Reynard,"  said  the  Peacock,  "therein 
is  not  your  folly  —  although  there  is  neither 
wit  nor  wisdom  in  your  prattle  —  but  in  the 


144  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

thought  that  your  fine  words  would  make  an 
easy  prey  of  me!" 

The  Fox  quietly  left  the  place,  saying:  "The 
Knave  that  hath  been  found  out  cannot  have  legs  too 
quick." 

The  Tiger  and  the  Giraffe 

A  TIGER,  named  Old  Guile,  who  had  grown 
weak  with  age,  was  lying  under  a  tree  by  the 
side  of  a  lake  in  quest  of  some  animal  off  which 
he  could  make  a  meal. 

A  Giraffe,  named  Tall  Stripes,  who  came  to 
the  lake  to  quench  his  thirst,  attracted  his 
attention,  and  Old  Guile  addressed  him  as 
follows:  "Oh,  what  a  happy  day!  I  see  there 
the  son  of  my  old  friend  Yellow  Haunch,  who 
lived  in  the  great  forest  near  that  distant 
mountain." 

Tall  Stripes  was  astonished  to  hear  the  words 
of  Old  Guile,  and  asked  him  how  he,  a  Tiger, 
could  be  the  friend  of  his  father,  a  Giraffe. 

"I  am  not  surprised  at  your  question," 
replied  Old  Guile;  "it  is  a  truth  known  to  very 
few  indeed  that  the  Tiger  and  the  Giraffe  be- 
long to  the  same  family.  Just  look  at  your 
skin  and  my  own:  yours  is  of  a  pale  yellow 
colour,  mine  is  very  nearly  the  same;  you  have 
stripes,  I  have  them,  too.  What  more  proofs 
do  you  want?" 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA  145 

Tall  Stripes,  who  was  extremely  simple  and 
guileless,  believed  these  words,  and  said:  "I 
am  very  happy  to  know  that  my  father  was 
your  friend,  and  that  we  are  of  the  same  family. 
Can  I  do  anything  for  you?" 

Old  Guile  replied,  "No,  thank  you;  old  as  I 
am,  I  make  it  a  point  of  relying  on  myself. 
Further,  a  great  part  of  my  time  is  spent  in 
prayer  and  meditation;  for  I  consider  it  neces- 
sary, at  this  age,  to  devote  all  my  attention 
to  spiritual  things.  It  will,  however,  be  a  great 
gratification  to  me  to  have  your  company  when- 
ever you  should  chance  to  pass  by  this  lake." 

Tall  Stripes  acceded  to  this  request,  and  was 
about  to  go  on  his  Way,  when  Old  Guile  observed; 
"My  dear  Tall  Stripes,  you  are  well  aware  of  the 
instability  of  all  earthly  things.  I  am  old  and 
infirm,  and  who  knows  what  may  happen  to  me 
to-morrow.  Perhaps  I  may  not  see  you  again; 
so  let  me  do  myself  the  pleasure  of  embracing 
you  before  you  leave  me  for  the  present." 

"Certainly,"  said  Tall  Stripes.  Thereupon 
Old  Guile  rose  up  slowly  from  his  seat,  like  one 
devoid  of  all  energy,  and  embracing  him, 
plunged  his  deadly  teeth  into  his  long  neck, 
and  stretching  him  on  the  ground  made  a 
hearty  breakfast  on  him. 

Beware  of  the  crafty  professions  of  the  wicked. 


146  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Man  of  Luck  and  the  Man  of  Pluck 

A  KING  in  the  East  said  to  his  Minister; 
"Do  you  believe  in  luck?" 

"I  do,"  said  the  Minister. 

"Can  you  prove  it?"  said  the  King. 

"Yes,  I  can,"  said  the  Minister. 

So  one  night  he  tied  up  to  the  ceiling  of  a 
room  a  parcel  containing  peas  mixed  with  dia- 
monds, and  let  in  two  men,  one  of  whom  be- 
lieved in  luck  and  the  other  in  human  effort 
alone.  The  former  quietly  laid  himself  down 
on  the  ground;  the  latter  after  a  series  of  efforts 
reached  the  parcel,  and  feeling  in  the  dark  the 
peas  and  the  stones,  ate  the  former,  one  by  one, 
and  threw  down  the  latter  at  his  companion, 
saying,  "Here  are  the  stones  for  your  idleness." 
The  man  below  received  them  in  his  blanket. 

In  the  morning  the  king  and  the  minister 
came  to  the  room  and  bade  each  take  to  himself 
what  he  had  got.  The  Man  of  Effort  found  he 
had  nothing  beyond  the  peas  he  had  eaten. 
The  Man  of  Luck  quietly  walked  away  with 
the  diamonds. 

The  Minister  said  to  the  King;  "Sire,  there 
is  such  a  thing  as  luck;  but  it  is  as  rare  as 
peas  mixed  with  diamonds.  So  I  would  say: 
*Let  none  hope  to  live  by  luck.'" 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA  147 

The  Fox  and  the  Crabs 

ONE  day  a  Fox  seated  himself  on  a  stone  by  a 
stream  and  wept  aloud.  The  Crabs  in  the  holes 
around  came  up  to  him  and  said:  "Friend,  why 
are  you  wailing  so  loud?" 

"Alas!"  said  the  Fox,  "I  have  been  turned 
by  my  kindred  out  of  the  wood,  and  do  not 
know  what  to  do." 

"Why  were  you  turned  out?"  asked  the 
Crabs  in  a  tone  of  pity. 

"Because,"  said  the  Fox,  sobbing,  "they  said 
they  should  go  out  to-night  hunting  Crabs  by 
the  stream,  and  I  said  it  would  be  a  pity  to 
kill  such  pretty  little  creatures." 

"  Where  will  you  go  hereafter?  "  said  the  Crabs, 

"Where  I  can  get  work,"  said  the  Fox; 
"for  I  would  not  go  to  my  kindred  again,  come 
what  would." 

Then  the  Crabs  held  a  meeting,  and  came  to 
the  conclusion  that,  as  the  Fox  had  been  thrown 
out  by  his  kindred  on  their  account,  they  could 
do  nothing  better  than  engage  his  services  to 
defend  them.  So  they  told  the  Fox  of  their 
intention.  He  readily  consented,  and  spent 
the  whole  day  in  amusing  the  Crabs  with  all 
kinds  of  tricks. 
*  Night  came.  The  moon  rose  in  full  splendour. 


148  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Fox  said:  "Have  you  ever  been  out  for  a 
walk  in  the  moonlight?" 

"Never,  friend,"  said  the  Crabs;  "we  are 
such  little  creatures  that  we  are  afraid  of  going 
far  from  our  holes." 

"Oh,  never  mind!"  said  the  Fox;  "follow  me! 
I  can  defend  you  against  any  foe." 

So  the  Crabs  followed  him  with  pleasure. 
On  the  way  the  Fox  told  them  all  sorts  of  delight- 
ful things,  and  cheered  them  on  most  heartily. 
Having  thus  gone  some  distance,  they  reached 
a  plain,  where  the  Fox  came  to  a  stand,  and 
made  a  low  moan  in  the  direction  of  an  adja- 
cent wood.  Instantly  a  number  of  foxes  came 
out  of  the  wood  and  joined  their  kinsman,  and 
all  of  them  at  once  set  about  hunting  the  poor 
Crabs,  who  fled  in  all  directions  for  their  lives, 
but  were  soon  caught  and  devoured. 

When  the  banquet  was  over,  the  Foxes  said  to 
their  friend:  "How  great  thy  skill  and  cunning!" 

The  heartless  villain  replied,  writh  a  wink: 
"My  friends,  There  is  cunning  in  cunning" 

The  Camel  and  the  Pig 

A  CAMEL  said:  "Nothing  like  being  tall! 
Look  how  tall  I  am!" 

A  Pig,  who  heard  these  words,  said:  "Noth- 
ing like  being  short!  Look  how  short  I  am!" 


FABLES  FROM  INDIA  149 

The  Camel  said:  "Well,  if  I  fail  to  prove  the 
truth  of  what  I  said,  I  shall  give  up  my  hump." 

The  Pig  said:  "If  I  fail  to  prove  the  truth  of 
what  I  have  said,  I  shall  give  up  my  snout." 

"Agreed!"    said   the   Camel. 

"Just  so!"  said  the  Pig. 

They  came  to  a  garden,  enclosed  by  a  low 
wall  without  any  opening.  The  Camel  stood 
on  this  side  the  wall,  and  reaching  the  plants 
within  by  means  of  his  long  neck  made  a  break- 
fast on  them.  Then  he  turned  jeeringly  to 
the  Pig,  who  had  been  standing  at  the  bottom 
of  the  wall  without  even  a  look  at  the  good 
things  in  the  garden,  and  said:  "Now,  would 
you  be  tall,  or  short?" 

Next  they  came  to  a  garden,  enclosed  by  a 
high  wall,  with  a  wicket  gate  at  one  end.  The 
Pig  entered  by  the  gate  and,  after  having  eaten 
his  fill  of  the  vegetables  within,  came  out, 
laughing  at  the  poor  Camel,  who  had  had  to 
stay  outside,  because  he  was  too  tall  to  enter 
the  garden  by  the  gate,  and  said :  "  Now,  would 
you  be  tall,  or  short?" 

Then  they  thought  the  matter  over,  and  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  Camel  should  keep 
his  hump  and  the  Pig  his  snout,  observing: 
"  Tall  is  good,  where  tall  would  do;  if  short,  again, 
'tis  also  true!" 


MALAYAN  FABLES 

"He  who  is  not  possessed  of  such  a  book  as 
will  dispel  many  doubts,  point  out  hidden  treasures, 
and  is,  as  it  were,  a  mirror  of  all  things,  is  even 
an  ignorant  man." 


MALAYAN  FABLES 

Father  "Lime-stick"  and  the  Flower-pecker 

OLD  FATHER  LIME-STICK  once  limed 
a  tree  for  birds  and  caught  a  Flower- 
pecker.  He  was  just  about  to  kill 
and  eat  it  when  the  bird  cried  out,  "O  Grand- 
father, surely  you  are  not  going  to  eat  me? 
Why,  flesh,  feathers  and  all,  I  am  no  bigger  than 
your  thumb!"  "What! "  said  the  old  man;  "do 
you  expect  me  then  to  let  you  go?"  "Yes," 
said  the  bird,  "only  let  me  go,  and  I  will  fetch 
you  such  a  talisman  as  never  was  —  a  Bezoar- 
stone  as  big  as  a  cocoanut  and  worth  at  least  a 
thousand."  Said  the  old  man,  "Do  you  really 
mean  it?"  "Really,  I  do,"  replied  the  bird. 
"Just  let  me  go,  and  I'll  bring  it  to  you." 
Then,  on  being  released,  he  flew  off  and  perched 
on  a  tree,  and  began  to  preen  his  feathers, 
to  get  rid  of  the  bird-lime. 

Presently  the  old  man  said:  "Where  has  that 
bird  got  to?  Bird,  where  is  the  Bezoar-stone 
you  promised  to  bring  me,  the  one  that  was 
worth  at  least  a  thousand?"  " Out-on-you, " 

153 


154  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

was  the  reply,  "this  is  really  too  ridiculous. 
Just  think  of  me,  with  my  body  as  big  as  your 
thumb,  carrying  a  Bezoar-stone  as  big  as  a 
cocoanut!  It  really  is  too  absurd.  Why,  have 
I  even  got  the  strength  to  lift  it?"  At  this  the 
old  man  held  his  peace.  "Well,"  continued 
the  bird,  "you  will  gain  nothing  by  repenting 
that  you  set  me  free.  Only  remember  in  future 
not  to  undertake  an  affair  quite  out  of  keeping 
with  your  own  powers.  Neither  try  to  get 
your  arms  round  a  tree  too  big  for  your  em- 
brace, nor  attempt  to  climb  one  higher  than  your 
strength  permits  you. " 

The  Mouse-deer's  Shipwreck 

"COME, "said  the  Mouse-deer  to  the  Stump- 
tailed  Heron,  "come  and  sail  with  me  to  Java." 
So  they  set  sail,  and  Friend  Mouse-deer  held 
the  tiller  and  Friend  Heron  spread  the  sail, 
and  the  wind  blew  from  the  north.  Soon 
however  Friend  Mouse-deer  got  drowsy,  and  let 
the  boat  fall  out  of  the  wind. 

At  this  Friend  Heron  said:  "Why  does  the 
boat  fall  off?  How  is  your  helm,  Friend  Mouse- 
deer?"  "I  was  only  taking  a  few  winks," 
said  he.  "Bring  her  up  to  the  wind  again," 
said  the  Heron.  And  the  Mouse-deer  replied: 
"All  right, I'm'on  the  spot.'"  Presently,  how- 


MALAYAN  FABLES  155 

ever,  he  dozed  again  and  the  Heron  exclaimed: 
"Oh,  if  that's  to  be  it,  you  may  die  and  be  done 
with.  I'll  peck  a  hole  in  this  boat  of  ours 
and  you'll  go  to  the  bottom." 

But  the  Mouse-deer  said:  "Please  don't, 
I'm  such  a  bad  hand  at  swimming."  So  they 
sailed  on.  And  the  Mouse-deer  dozed  a  third 
time.  At  this  the  Heron  could  contain  himself 
no  longer,  and  said,  "Confound  you,  Friend 
Mouse-deer,  for  sleeping  at  the  helm."  And 
losing  his  temper  he  pecked  a  hole  in  the  boat, 
and  the  boat  let  in  the  water  and  Friend  Heron 
flew  away.  But  the  Mouse-deer  swam  struggling 
with  his  feet  in  the  midst  of  the  sea. 

Presently  there  came  up  a  young  Shark  who 
exclaimed,  "I'll  have  a  meal  off  you  this  time 
at  all  events."  But  the  Mouse-deer  answered, 
"What,  Friend  Shark,  you'll  make  a  meal  off 
me?  Why,  in  place  of  the  little  flesh  I've  got, 
if  you'll  carry  me  ashore,  I'll  teach  you  some 
excellent  Magic  which  will  save  you  from  ever 
having  to  hunt  for  your  food  again."  To  this 
the  Shark  replied,  "Agreed.  If  you'll  teach  me 
'your  excellent  Magic'  I'll  carry  you  ashore." 
So  the  Mouse-deer  got  upon  Friend  Shark's 
back,  and  was  carried  straight  ashore. 

And  on  their  arrival  the  Mouse-deer  said: 
"Wait  here  a  bit,  while  I  go  and  get  the 


156  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

simples."  And  going  a-land  he  hunted  up  a 
rattan  creeper  and  took  it  back  with  him  and 
said:  "Now  I'll  give  you  the  simples  I  spoke  of," 
and  bound  it  fast  to  Friend  Shark's  tail.  And 
presently  the  Shark  said:  "Why  have  you  made 
the  line  fast  to  my  tail?"  But  the  Mouse-deer 
replied:  "Keep  quite  quiet  till  I  have  tied  you 
up  properly,  and  then  I'll  give  you  the  simples. " 
But  presently  he  dragged  the  Shark  up  on  to 
the  dry  beach,  and  made  butcher's  meat  of 
him.  Just  then,  however,  a  Tiger  came  up, 
exclaiming,  "Here's  really  a  good  meal  for  Me, 
for  once  in  a  way!"  To  this,  however,  the 
Mouse-deer  replied :  "  What  is  the  use  of  eating 
me,  when  there's  already  plenty  of  butcher's 
meat  and  to  spare?"  "Very  well,  I'll  share  it 
with  you,"  said  the  Tiger.  The  Mouse-deer 
replied,  "You  may  share  it  with  me  by  all  means, 
if  you  will  only  go  and  get  some  water  to  do  the 
cooking."  So  the  Tiger  went  off  to  get  water 
and  presently  came  back  with  it. 

"Wash  the  meat  before  you  roast  it,"  said 
the  Mouse-deer.  The  Tiger  took  the  meat  and 
washed  it  in  the  water.  "Go  and  fetch  fire 
and  roast  it, "  said  the  Mouse-deer.  The  Tiger 
fetched  fire  and  came  back  to  do  the  cooking. 
And  when  the  meat  was  done,  "Now  go  and 
fetch  some  drinking  water,"  said  the  Mouse- 


MALAYAN  FABLES  157 

deer,  "and  we'll  have  our  meal  together." 
So  the  Tiger  went  off  again  to  fetch  the  drinking 
water.  But  the  Mouse-deer  in  the  meantime 
made  off  with  the  Shark's  meat  and  climbed 
up  with  it  to  the  top  of  a  She-oak  Tree.  And 
presently  the  Tiger  came  back  and  found  both 
Mouse-deer  and  meat  missing.  At  this  he 
exclaimed:  "For  once  in  a  way,  Mh*.  Mouse-deer, 
you've  fairly  cheated  Me;  if  we  don't  meet 
again  no  matter,  but  if  we  do,  I'll  be  the  death 
of  you."  And  here  the  story  ends. 

The  Tiger  Gets  His  Deserts 

A  TIGER  which  had  been  caught  in  a  trap, 
seeing  a  man,  begged  to  be  released.  The  man 
said  to  the  Tiger:  "If  I  let  you  out  of  the  trap 
will  you  promise  not  to  attack  me?"  "Cer- 
tainly "  said  the  Tiger,  and  the  man  therefore 
let  the  Tiger  go;  but  the  moment  the  Tiger  was 
loose  it  sprang  upon  the  man  and  caught  him. 
At  this  the  man  begged  the  Tiger  to  wait  until 
he  had  inquired  how  the  law  stood  with  refer- 
ence to  their  contract,  and  the  Tiger  agreed  to 
do  so.  The  man  and  the  Tiger  therefore  set  out 
together;  and  on  coming  to  a  Road  the  man 
said:  "O  Road,  Road,  is  it  lawful  to  requite 
evil  for  good,  or  good  for  good  only?"  The 
Road  replied:  "I  do  good  to  mankind,  but  they 


158  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

requite  me  with  evil,  defiling  my  surface  as 
they  go."  Then  they  came  to  a  Tree,  of  which 
the  man  asked  the  same  question.  The  Tree 
replied:  "I  do  good  to  mankind,  but  they  re- 
quite me  with  evil,  lopping  off  my  branches 
and  cutting  me  down."  At  last  they  came 
to  the  Mouse-deer  and  the  man  made  the  same 
inquiry  as  before.  The  Mouse-deer  replied: 
"I  must  really  go  into  the  question  thoroughly 
before  I  answer  it;  let  us  go  back  together  to 
the  trap. "  On  reaching  the  trap,  he  requested 
the  Tiger  to  "Step  inside,"  and  the  Tiger  en- 
tering the  trap,  the  Mouse-deer  let  down  the 
door  of  the  trap,  and  exclaimed,  "Accursed 
Brute,  you  have  returned  evil  for  good  and  now 
you  shall  die  for  it."  He  then  called  in  the 
neighbours  and  had  the  Tiger  killed. 

The  Tune  That  Makes  the  Tiger  Drowsy 

THERE  is  a  tune  which  when  played  upon 
the  "Kerotong"  (a  two-stringed  bamboo  harp) 
makes  Rimau  the  Tiger  drowsy,  but  only  a 
few  old  people  know  it.  One  evening  two 
men  were  sitting  together  and  playing  in  a 
hut  in  the  jungle  when  two  tigers  overheard 
them. 

The  Tigers  took  counsel  together,  and  one 
of  them  said  to  the  other,  "You  shall  be  the 


MALAYAN  FABLES  159 

first  to  go  into  the  house.  Whatever  you  seize 
shall  therefore  be  your  portion,  but  Whatever 
plunges  down  the  steps  to  escape  shall  be  mine." 
At  this  the  second  Tiger  ascended  the  house- 
ladder  and  was  just  crouching  upon  the  topmost 
rung  when  one  of  the  men  to  amuse  himself 
commenced  to  play  the  Tune  that  makes  the 
Tiger  drowsy.  As  soon  as  the  Tiger  heard  it 
he  began  to  grow  sleepy,  and  presently  fell 
plump  down  the  steps  to  the  ground,  where 
he  was  seized  by  his  companion.  When  he 
objected  his  companion  exclaimed,  "Did  we 
not  agree  that  Whatever  plunged  down  the  steps 
was  to  be  my  portion?"  and,  so  saying,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  devour  him  at  his  leisure. 

The  Tiger  and  the  Shadow 

THERE  was  a  "salt-lick"  in  the  jungle  to 
which  all  the  beasts  of  the  forest  resorted,  but 
they  were  greatly  afraid  by  reason  of  an  old 
Tiger  which  killed  one  of  them  every  day.  At 
length,  therefore,  P'lando'  the  Mouse-deer  said 
to  the  Tiger,  "Why  not  permit  me  to  bring  you 
a  beast  every  day,  to  save  you  from  hunting 
for  your  food?"  The  Tiger  consented  and 
P'lando'  went  off  to  make  arrangement  with 
the  beasts.  But  he  could  not  persuade  any  of 
them  to  go,  and  after  three  days  he  set  off, 


160  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

taking  nobody  with  him  but  Kmvis  the  smallest 
of  the  Flying  Squirrels. 

On  their  arrival  P'lando'  said  to  the  Tiger: 
"I  could  not  bring  you  any  of  the  other  beasts 
because  the  way  was  blocked  by  a  fat  old  Tiger 
with  a  Flying  Squirrel  sitting  astride  its  muzzle. " 
On  hearing  this  the  Tiger  exclaimed,  "Let 
us  go  and  find  it  and  drive  it  away. "  The  three 
therefore  set  out,  the  Flying  Squirrel  perched 
upon  the  Tiger's  muzzle  and  the  Mouse-deer 
sitting  astride  upon  its  hind  quarters.  On 
reaching  the  river,  the  Mouse-deer  pointed 
to  the  Tiger's  likeness  in  the  water  and  ex- 
claimed, "Look  there!  That  is  the  fat  old  Tiger 
that  I  saw."  On  hearing  this,  the  Tiger  sprang 
into  the  river  to  attack  his  own  shadow,  and 
was  drowned  immediately. 

The  King-crow  and  the  Water-snail 

A  WATER-SNAIL  was  coming  up-stream  from 
the  lower  reaches,  when  a  King-crow  heard  it. 
Said  the  King-crow  to  himself:  "Who  can  it 
be  coming  up-stream  that  exclaims  so  loudly 
at  the  rapids?  One  might  say  it  was  a  man,  but 
that  there  is  nothing  to  be  seen. "  So  the  King- 
crow  settled  on  a  tree  to  watch,  but  as  he  could 
see  nothing  from  his  perch  on  the  tree  he  flew 
down  to  the  ground,  and  walked  along  by  the 


MALAYAN  FABLES  161 

water-side.  And  when  he  thought  to  see  some 
man  exclaiming,  he  caught  sight  of  the  Water- 
snail. 

"Hullo,  you  there/'  said  he,  "where  do  you 
come  from?"  "I  come  from  the  eddy  below 
the  rapids,"  said  the  Water-snail,  "and  I  only 
want  to  get  as  far  as  the  head-waters  of  this 
river."  Said  the  King-crow:  "Wait  a  bit. 
Suppose  you  go  down  to  the  river-mouth  as 
quickly  as  you  can  and  we  will  have  a  wager 
on  it."  (Now  rivers  are  the  Water-snail's 
domain,  in  which  he  has  many  comrades.) 

"What  is  to  be  the  stake?"  asked  the  Water- 
snail.  "If  I  am  beaten  I  will  be  your  slave, 
and  look  after  your  aroids  and  wild  caladiums 
on  which  all  Water-snails  feed."  Then  the 
King-crow  asked:  "And  what  will  you  stake?" 
The  Water-snail  replied,  "If  I  am  beaten,  the 
river  shall  be  handed  over  to  you  and  you  shall 
be  King  of  the  River."  But  the  Water-snail 
begged  for  a  delay  of  twice  seven  days,  saying 
that  he  felt  knocked  up  after  ascending  the 
rapids,  and  the  delay  was  granted  accordingly. 

Meanwhile,  however,  the  Water-snail  hunted 
up  a  great  number  of  his  friends  and  instructed 
them  to  conceal  themselves  in  each  of  the  higher 
reaches  of  the  river,  and  to  reply  immediately 
when  the  King-crow  challenged  them. 


162  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  day  arrived,  and  the  King-crow  flew  off, 
and  in  each  of  the  higher  reaches  the  Water- 
snail's  friends  replied  to  the  challenge,  while  at 
the  river-mouth  the  Water-snail  replied  in  per- 
son. So  the  King-crow  was  defeated  and  has 
ever  since  remained  the  slave  of  the  Water-snail. 

The  Elephant  Has  a  Bet  with  the  Tiger 

IN.  THE  beginning  Gajah  the  Elephant  and 
Rimau  the  Tiger  were  sworn  friends.  But  one 
day  they  came  to  a  clearing  and  presently  en- 
countered Lotong,  the  long-tailed  Spectacle- 
monkey.  And  when  he  saw  the  Monkey,  the 
Elephant  said,  "Mr.  Lotong  yonder  is  far  too 
noisy;  let  us  try  and  shake  him  off;  if  he  falls  to 
me  I  am  to  eat  you;  and  if  he  falls  to  you,  you 
are  to  eat  me  —  we  will  make  a  wager  of  it. " 
The  Tiger  said,  "Agreed";  and  the  Elephant 
replied,  "Agreed."  "Very  well!"  said  the  Tiger; 
"you  shall  try  and  menace  him  first."  So 
the  Elephant  tried  to  menace  the  Monkey. 
"AU!  AU!  AU!"  he  trumpeted,  and  each 
time  he  trumpeted  the  Monkey  was  scared. 
But  the  Monkey  went  jumping  head  foremost 
through  the  branches  and  never  fell  to  the  ground 
at  all. 

Presently,  therefore,  the  Tiger  asked  the 
Elephant,  "Well,  Friend  Elephant,  would  you 


MALAYAN  FABLES  163 

like  to  try  your  luck  again? "  But  the  Elephant 
said,  "No,  thank  you.  It  shall  be  your  turn 
noAv;  and  if  he  falls  to  you,  you  shall  eat  me  — 
if  you  really  can  make  him  fall!"  Then  the 
Tiger  went  and  roared  his  longest  and  loudest, 
and  shortened  his  body  as  for  a  spring  and 
growled  and  menaced  the  Monkey  thrice.  And 
the  Monkey  leaped  and  fell  at  the  Tiger's  feet, 
for  his  feet  and  hands  were  paralyzed  and 
would  not  grip  the  branches  any  more.  Then 
the  Tiger  said:  "Well,  Friend  Elephant,  I 
suppose  I  may  eat  you  now."  But  the  Ele- 
phant said:  "You  have,  I  admit,  won  the 
wager;  but  I  beg  you  to  grant  me  just  seven 
days'  respite,  to  enable  me  to  visit  my  wife 
and  children  and  to  make  my  will. "  The  Tiger 
granted  the  request,  and  the  Elephant  went 
home,  bellowing  and  sobbing  every  foot  of  the 
way. 

Now  the  Elephant's  wife  heard  the  sound  of 
her  husband's  voice,  and  said  to  her  children, 
"  What  can  be  the  matter  with  your  Father  that 
he  keeps  sobbing  so  ?  "  And  the  children  listened 
to  make  sure,  and  said,  "Yes,  it  really  is  Father's 
voice,  the  sobbing,  and  not  that  of  anybody 
else. "  Presently  Father  Elephant  arrived,  and 
Mother  Elephant  asked:  "What  were  you  sob- 
bing for,  Father?  What  have  you  done  to 


164  THE  TALKING  BEASTS^ 

yourself?"  Father  Elephant  replied:  "I  made 
a  wager  with  Friend  Tiger  about  shaking  down 
a  Monkey,  and  Friend  Tiger  beat  me;  I  menaced 
the  Monkey,  but  he  did  not  fall;  if  he  had  fallen 
to  me,  I  was  to  have  eaten  Friend  Tiger,  but  if 
he  fell  to  Friend  Tiger,  Friend  Tiger  was  to  eat 
me.  I  was  beaten,  and  now  Friend  Tiger  says 
he  is  going  to  eat  me.  So  I  begged  leave  to  come 
home  and  see  you,  and  he  has  given  me  just 
seven  days'  respite." 

Now  for  the  seven  days  Father  Elephant  kept 
sobbing  aloud,  and  neither  ate  nor  slept.  And 
the  thing  came  to  the  hearing  of  Friend  Mouse- 
deer.  "What  can  be  the  matter  with  Friend 
Elephant  that  he  keeps  bellowing  and  bellowing; 
neither  does  he  sleep,  so  that  night  is  turned 
into  day,  and  day  into  night?  What  on  earth 
is  the  matter  with  him?  Suppose  I  go  and  see, " 
said  the  Mouse-deer.  Then  the  Mouse-deer 
went  to  see  what  was  wrong,  and  asked:  "What 
is  the  matter  with  you,  Friend  Elephant,  that 
we  hear  you  bellowing  and  bellowing  every  single 
day  and  every  single  night,  just  now,  too,  when 
the  Rains  are  upon  us?  You  are  far  too  noisy. " 

But  the  Elephant  said:  "It  is  no  mere  empty 
noise,  Friend  Mouse-deer;  I  have  got  into  a 
dreadful  scrape."  "WThat  sort  of  a  scrape?" 
inquired  the  Mouse-deer.  "I  made  a  wager 


MALAYAN  FABLES  165 

with  Friend  Tiger  about  shaking  down  a  Monkey, 
and  he  beat  me."  "What  was  the  stake?" 
asked  the  Mouse-deer.  "The  stake  was  that 
Friend  Tiger  might  eat  me  if  Friend  Tiger 
frightened  it  down;  and  if  I  frightened  it  down,  I 
might  eat  Friend  Tiger.  It  fell  to  Friend  Tiger, 
and  now  Friend  Tiger  wants  to  eat  me.  And 
my  reason  for  not  eating  or  sleeping  any  more 
is  that  I  have  got  only  just  seven  days'  respite 
to  go  home  and  visit  my  wife  and  children  and 
to  make  my  will."  Then  the  Mouse-deer  said: 
"If  it  came  to  Friend  Tiger's  eating  you,  I 
should  feel  exceedingly  sorrowful,  exceedingly 
distressed;  but  things  being  only  as  you  say, 
I  feel  neither. "  "If  you  will  assist  me,"  said  the 
Elephant,  "  I  will  become  your  slave,  and  my  de- 
scendants shall  be  your  slaves  forever. "  "  Very 
well,  if  that  is  the  case,  I  will  assist  you, "  said 
the  Mouse-deer.  "Go  and  look  for  a  jar  full  of 
molasses. "  Friend  Elephant  promised  to  do  so, 
and  went  to  look  for  it  at  the  house  of  a  maker 
of  palm- wine.  The  owner  of  the  house  fled  for 
his  life,  and  the  jar  fell  into  Friend  Elephant's 
possession,  who  bore  it  back  to  the  Mouse-deer. 
Then  Friend  Mouse-deer  said,  "When  does 
your  promise  expire?"  and  Friend  Elephant 
replied,  "To-morrow."  So  when  next  morning 
arrived  they  started,  and  the  Mouse-deer  said, 


166  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"Now  pour  the  molasses  over  your  back  and 
let  it  spread  and  spread  and  run  down  your 
legs."  Friend  Elephant  did  as  he  was  ordered. 
Friend  Mouse-deer  then  instructed  the  Elephant 
as  follows:  "As  soon  as  I  begin  to  lick  up  the 
molasses  on  your  back,  bellow  as  loud  as  you 
can  and  make  believe  to  be  hurt,  and  writhe  and 
wriggle  this  way  and  that. " 

And  presently  Friend  Mouse-deer  commenced 
to  lick  hard,  and  Friend  Elephant  writhed  and 
wriggled  and  made  believe  to  be  hurt,  and  made 
a  prodigious  noise  of  trumpeting.  In  this  way 
they  proceeded  and  Friend  Mouse-deer  got  up 
and  sat  astride  upon  Friend  Elephant's  back. 
And  the  Elephant  trumpeted  and  trumpeted 
all  the  way  till  they  met  with  Friend  Tiger. 
At  this  Friend  Mouse-deer  exclaimed,  "A 
single  Elephant  is  very  short  commons;  if  I 
could  only  catch  that  big  and  fat  old  Tiger 
there,  it  would  be  just  enough  to  satisfy  my 
hunger. " 

Now  when  Friend  Tiger  heard  these  words 
of  the  Mouse-deer,  he  said  to  himself,  "So  I 
suppose  if  you  catch  me,  you'll  eat  me  into  the 
bargain,  will  you?"  And  Friend  Tiger  stayed 
not  a  moment  longer,  but  fled  for  his  life,  fetch- 
ing very  lofty  bounds. 

And  soon  he  met  with  the  Black  Ape,  and 


NOW  WHEN  FRIEND  TIGER  HEARD  THESE  WORDS  OF  THE  MOUSE- 
DEER,  HE  SAID  TO  HIMSELF,  *SO  I  SUPPOSE  IF  YOU  CATCH  ME,  YOU 
WILL  EAT  ME  INTO  THE  BARGAIN,  WILL  YOU?  '  AND  FRIEND  TIGEB 
STAYED  NOT  A  MOMENT  LONGER,  BUT  FLED  FOR  HIS  LIFE" 


MALAYAN  FABLES  167 

Friend  Ape  asked,  "Why  running  so  hard, 
Friend  Tiger?  Why  so  much  noise,  and  why, 
just  when  the  Rains  are  upon  us,  too,  do  you  go 
fetching  such  lofty  bounds?"  Friend  Tiger 
replied,  "What  do  you  mean  by  'so  much  noise'? 
What  was  the  Thing  that  was  got  upon  Friend 
Elephant's  back,  that  had  caught  Friend  Ele- 
phant and  was  devouring  him  so  that  he  went 
writhing  and  wriggling  for  the  pain  of  it,  and 
the  blood  went  streaming  down  in  floods? 
Moreover  the  Thing  that  was  got  on  Friend 
Elephant's  back  said,  to  my  hearing,  that  a 
single  Elephant  was  very  short  commons:  but 
if  It  could  catch  a  fat  old  Tiger  like  myself 
that  would  be  just  enough  to  satisfy  Its  hunger. " 
Friend  Ape  said,  "  What  was  that  Thing,  Friend 
Tiger?  "  "  I  don't  know, "  said  the  Tiger.  "  Ah,  " 
mused  the  Ape,  "I  wonder  if  it  could  be  Friend 
Mouse-deer!"  "Certainly  not,"  said  the  Tiger; 
"why,  how  in  the  world  could  Friend  Mouse- 
deer  swallow  Me?  To  say  nothing  of  his  not 
being  used  to  meat  food. "  "  Come  and  let  us 
go  back  again, "  said  the  Ape. 

Then  they  went  back  again  to  find  the  Ele- 
phant, and  first  the  Ape  went  the  faster,  and 
then  the  Tiger  went  the  faster,  and  then  the 
Ape  got  in  front  again.  But  Friend  Mouse- 
deer  sitting  on  Friend  Elephant's  back  saw  them 


168  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

coming  and  shouted.  "Hullo,  Father  Ape," 
said  he,  "this  is  a  dog's  trick  indeed;  you  prom- 
ised to  bring  me  two  tigers  and  you  only  bring 
me  one.  I  refuse  to  accept  it,  Father  Ape." 

Now  when  Friend  Tiger  heard  this,  he  ran 
off  at  first  as  fast  as  he  could,  but  presently  he 
slackened  his  pace  and  said,  "It  is  too  bad  of 
you,  Friend  Ape,  to  try  to  cozen  me  in  order 
to  pay  your  own  debts.  For  shame,  Father 
Ape!  It  was  only  through  good  luck  that  he 
refused  to  accept  me;  if  he  had  accepted,  I 
should  have  been  dead  and  done  with.  So  now, 
if  you  come  down  to  the  ground,  you  shall  die 
the  death  yourself,  just  for  your  trying  to  cheat 
me." 

Thus  the  Tiger  and  the  Ape  were  set  at  en- 
mity, and  to  this  day  the  Tiger  is  very  wroth 
with  the  Ape  for  trying  to  cheat  him.  And 
here  the  story  ends. 


MOORISH  FABLES 

"  While  watching  man  in  all  his  phases. 
And  seeing  that,   in  many  cases. 

He  acts  just  like  the  brute  creation  — 
I've  thought  the  lord  of  all  these  races 
Of  no  less  failings  showed  the  traces 

Than  do  his  lieges  in  relation. " 


MOORISH  FABLES 

The  Wagtail  and  the  Jackal 

A  A  time  when  the  animals  spoke,  a 
Wagtail  laid  her  eggs  on  the  ground. 
The  little  ones  grew  up.  A  Jackal  and 
a  Fox  came  to  them.  The  Jackal  said  to  the 
Fox: 

"Swear  to  me  tha  the  Wagtail  owes  me  a 
pound  of  butter. " 

The  Fox  swore  to  it.  The  Bird  began  to  weep. 
A  Greyhound  came  to  her  and  asked  her 
what  was  the  matter.  She  answered  him: 

"The  Fox  has  calumniated  me." 

"Well,"  said  the  Hound,  "put  me  in  this 
sack  of  skin. " 

She  put  him  in  the  sack.  "Tie  up  the 
top  well,"  said  the  Hound.  When  the  Jackal 
returned  she  said  to  him, 

"  Come  and  measure  out  the  butter. " 

The  Jackal  advanced  and  unfastened  the 
sack.  He  saw  the  Hound,  wrho  stretched  out 
his  pawrs  and  said  to  the  Fox, 

"I  am  ill;  come  and  measure,  Fox." 

171 


172  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Fox  approached.  The  Hound  seized 
him.  The  Jackal  said: 

"Remember  your  false  testimony." 

The  Wren 

A  WREN  had  built  its  nest  on  the  side  of  a  road. 
When  the  eggs  were  hatched,  a  Camel  passed 
that  way.  The  little  Wrens  saw  it  and  said  to 
their  father  when  he  returned  from  the  fields : 

"O  papa,  a  gigantic  animal  passed  by." 

The  Wren  stretched  out  his  foot.  "As  big 
as  this,  my  children?" 

"O  papa,  much  bigger." 

He  stretched  out  his  foot  and  his  wing.  "As 
big  as  this?" 

"O  papa,  much  bigger." 

Finally  he  stretched  out  fully  his  feet  and  legs. 
"As  big  as  this  then?" 
1" Much  bigger." 

"That  is  a  lie;  there  is  no  animal  bigger  than 
lam." 

"Well,  wait,"  said  the  little  ones,  "and  you 
will  see." 

The  Camel  came  back  while  browsing  the 
grass  of  the  roadside. 

The  Wren  stretched  himself  out  near  the 
nest.  The  Camel  seized  the  bird,  which  passed 
through  its  teeth  safe  and  sound. 


MOORISH  FABLES  173 

"Truly, "  he  said  to  them,  "the  Camel  is  a  gi- 
gantic animal,  but  I  am  not  ashamed  of  myself. " 

On  the  earth  it  generally  happens  that  the 
vain  are  as  if  they  did  not  exist;  but  sooner  or 
later  a  rock  falls  and  crushes  them. 

Mule,  Jackal,  and  Lion 

THE  Mule,  the  Jackal,  and  the  Lion  went  in 

company. 

"We  will  eat  the  one  whose  race  is  bad," 

they  said  to  each  other. 

"Lion,  who  is  your  father?" 

"My  father  is  a  lion,  and  my  mother  is  a 

lioness. " 

"And  you,  Jackal,  what  is  your  father?" 
"My  father  is  a  jackal,  and  my  mother  too." 
"And  you,  Mule,  what  is  your  father?" 
"My  father  is  an  ass,  and  my  mother  is  a 

mare. " 

"Your  race  is  bad;  we  will  eat  you." 

He  answered  them:  "I  will  consult  an  old 

man.     If  he  says  that  my  race  is  bad,  you  may 

devour  me." 

He  went  to  a  farrier,  and  said  to  him,  "Shoe 

my  hind  feet,  and  make  the  nails  stick  out  well. " 
He  went  back  home.     He  called  the  Camel 

and  showed  him  his  feet,  saying,  "See  what  is 

written  on  this  tablet. " 


174  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"The  writing  is  difficult  to  decipher,"  an- 
swered the  Camel.  "I  do  not  understand  it, 
for  I  only  know  three  words  —  outini,  ouzatini, 
ouazakin. " 

He  called  the  Lion,  and  said  to  him,  "I  do 
not  understand  these  letters;  I  only  know  three 
words  —  outini,  ouzatini,  ouazakin. " 

"Show  it  to  me,"  said  the  Lion.  He  ap- 
proached. The  Mule  struck  him  between  the 
eyes  and  stretched  him  out  level. 

He  who  goes  with  a  knave  is  betrayed  by  him. 


AFRICAN  FABLES 

"The  world  is  old,  they  say;  I  don't  deny  it; 
But,  infant  still 
In  taste  and  will, 
Whoe'er  would  teach,  must  gratify  it." 


AFRICAN  FABLES 

The  Hen  and  the  Cat 

A^AT  arose  in  her  house,  went  to  a  Hen 
and  said  to  her:  "Let  us  make 
friendship!" 

The  Hen  replied  to  the  Cat:  "Dost  thou  like 
me  for  a  friend?" 

The  Cat  said,  "Yes,"  and  went  away,  and 
after  having  been  at  home  for  a  while,  she  sent 
her  child  to  the  Hen,  saying,  "Go  and  tell  the 
Hen  to  rise  up  early  to-morrow  morning,  and 
to  come  and  accompany  me  to  a  neighbouring 
town." 

The  child  arose,  went  to  the  Hen's  house  and 
saluted  her. 

The  Hen  arose,  and  asked  it:  "Thou  child 
of  the  Cat,  dost  thou  come  to  me  in  peace?" 

The  Cat's  child  replied,  "I  come  in  peace; 
my  mother  has  sent  me  to  thee. " 

The  Hen  said  to  the  Cat's  child,  "Say  what 
thy  mother  has  sent  thee  for;  let  me  know." 

After  the  Cat's  child  had  told  it  to  the  Hen,  it 
said:  "I  will  go,"  and  set  out  and  went  home. 

177 


178  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

When  it  was  gone  the  Hen  arose,  called  a 
child  of  hers,  and  said:  "Go  and  ask  the  Cat 
at  what  time  we  shall  go  to  the  neighbouring 
town?"  When  the  child  had  already  started, 
she  called  it  back  again,  saying,  "Come  back, 
I  will  tell  thee  something. " 

"The  child  returned,  and  when  it  had  come 
to  its  mother,  she  said  to  it,  "When  thou  goest 
to  the  Cat,  open  thy  ears  and  hear  well  what 
she  says,  and  come  and  tell  me." 

The  child  went  to  the  Cat,  and  saluted  her, 
and  when  the  Cat  arose  and  came  out  to  it, 
the  Hen's  child  was  standing  there.  The  Cat 
asked  the  Hen's  child,  "Why  did  thy  mother 
send  thee  to  me?" 

The  Hen's  child  said,  "My  mother  said  I 
must  come  and  ask  thee  how  early  shall  we  go 
to  the  neighbouring  town?" 

The  Cat  said  to  the  Hen's  child,  "Go  and  tell 
thy  mother  to  arise  and  come  at  the  cock- 
crowing;  for  what  should  eat  her?" 

The  Hen's  child  returned  to  its  mother,  and 
said  to  her,  "Behold  I  went  to  the  Cat's  place 
where  thou  sentest  me,  and  am  come  back." 

The  Hen  said  to  her  child,  "What  did  the 
Cat  say?  Let  me  hear  what  word  she  spoke?' 

Her  child  answered  and  said  to  her,  "My 
mother,  the  word  which  the  Cat  spoke  is  this: 


AFRICAN  FABLES  179 

'  Go  and  tell  thy  mother  to  come  to  me  when  the 
cock  crows,  that  we  may  go;  for  what  should 
eat  her'?" 

Its  mother,  the  Hen,  said  to  her  child,  "My 
child,  lie  down  in  your  house,  for  I  have  heard 
what  the  Cat  said. " 

The  child  of  the  Hen  obeyed  her  mother, 
went  and  lay  down,  and  also  her  mother  lay 
down.  They  slept  their  sleep  until  the  cock 
crew,  which  when  the  Cat  heard,  she  arose,  got 
ready  and  waited  for  the  Hen,  thinking,  "May 
she  come  that  we  may  go!"  The  cock  crew 
the  second  time,  and  the  Cat  looked  out  on  the 
way  whence  the  Hen  was  to  come,  thinking, 
"May  she  come  that  we  may  go!" 

The  Hen  did  not  get  up  at  home  and  day  came 
on.  When  it  became  day,  the  Cat  arose  in  her 
house,  went  to  the  Hen's  home,  and  said  to  her, 
"Hen,  thou  sentest  thy  child  to  me,  and  asked 
at  what  time  thou  shouldst  rise  up,  and  I  said 
to  thy  child,  'Go  and  tell  thy  mother  to  come 
when  the  cock  crows,  that  we  may  go.'  Did  it  not 
tell  thee  what  it  was  told  by  me,  that  thou  art 
still  sitting  at  home  although  it  has  become  day?  " 

The  Hen  said  to  the  Cat,  "Sister  Cat,  if  thou 
wishest  to  have  me  for  a  friend,  I  must  never 
get  up  in  my  house  and  come  out  at  night. " 

The  Cat  said  to  the  Hen,  "What  art  thou 


180  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

afraid  of  that  thou  sayest,  T  will  never  come  out 
at  night'?  What  is  there  in  the  way? " 

The  Hen  listened  to  what  the  Cat  said,  got 
herself  ready  and  called  her  children,  saying, 
"Come  and  let  us  accompany  the  Cat  to  a 
neighbouring  town!"  All  the  children  arose 
and  when  they  had  set  out  on  their  way,  the 
Cat  went  before,  and  having  gone  on  a  little, 
she  seized  two  of  the  children  of  the  Hen;  and 
the  Hen  saw  that  the  cat  was  seizing  two  of 
her  children;  so  she  said  to  the  Cat,  "Sister 
Cat,  we  have  scarcely  set  out  on  our  way  and 
dost  thou  seize  two  of  my  children?" 

The  Cat  replied,  "Thy  two  children  which  I 
took  have  not  strength  enough  to  walk;  therefore 
did  I  take  them  to  my  bosom  that  we  may 
go  on." 

The  Hen  said  to  the  Cat,  "If  thou  actest  thus, 
I  and  thou  must  dissolve  our  friendship. " 

The  Cat  replied,  "If  thou  wilt  not  have  a 
friend,  I  shall  let  thee  go  home."  So,  as  the 
Hen  began  to  go  home,  the  Cat  made  a  bound, 
and  seized  the  Hen's  head,  whereupon  the  Hen 
cried  for  help.  All  the  people  of  the  town  heard 
her,  arose,  ran,  and  when  they  were  come,  the 
Cat  was  holding  the  Hen's  head  tight.  When 
the  Cat  saw  the  people  of  the  town,  she  left 
the  Hen,  ran  away,  and  entered  the  forest. 


AFRICAN  FABLES  181 

There  the  Hen  was  standing  and  the  people 
of  the  town  said  to  her :  "  Foolish  one,  didst  thou, 
a  Hen,  arise  and  go  to  befriend  a  Cat?  If  we 
had  not  heard  thy  screams,  and  come  to  thee, 
she  would  have  killed  thee  and  carried  away  all 
thy  children  into  her  forest. " 

The  Hen  said  to  the  people  of  the  town: 
"God  bless  you:  you  have  taken  me  out  of  the 
Cat's  mouth." 

The  people  of  the  town  said  to  her:  "To-day 
our  Lord  has  delivered  thee,  but  for  the  future 
do  thou  no  more  make  friendship  with  the 
Cat.  The  Cat  is  too  cunning  for  thee:  beware 
of  the  Cat  in  future!" 

I  have  heard  old  people  say,  that  on  that  day 
the  cats  and  the  fowls  dissolved  their  friendship. 
This  is  finished. 

The  Stork  and  the  Toad 

A  STORK  went  and  laid  eggs  in  a  tree,  brooded 
and  hatched  young  ones.  Then  she  left  and  went 
to  seek  food  for  her  little  ones;  but  she  did  not 
get  any  food,  and  all  her  little  ones  were  crying 
for  hunger.  The  Stork  did  not  know  what  to 
do.  So  she  arose  one  day,  went  to  her  friend, 
and  said,  "My  friend,  I  am  come  to  thee." 

Her  friend  said:  "What  dost  thou  want  that 
thou  art  come  to  me?  " 


182  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

She  replied  to  her  friend:  "My  children  are 
hungry,  and  I  have  no  food;  therefore,  am  I 
come  to  thee;  teach  me  a  device!" 

Her  friend  said  to  her:  "Arise  in  the  morn- 
ing, go  to  the  brook,  and  see  whether  there 
are  Toads  in  it;  then  come  back,  and  on  the 
following  morning  go  again,  and  lie  down  by 
the  side  of  the  brook;  stretch  out  thy  legs  and 
thy  wings,  shut  thine  eyes,  keep  quite  silent, 
and  lie  in  one  place  until  the  Toads  come 
out  in  the  morning,  and,  after  seeing  thee, 
go  home  and  call  all  their  people  to  come,  to 
take  thee  by  the  wing  and  to  drag  thee  away. 
But  do  not  thou  speak  to  them  —  be  perfectly 
quiet." 

She  listened  to  what  her  friend  said,  and  at 
night-quiet  she  arose,  and  went  to  the  brook, 
when  all  the  Toads  were  singing;  but  as  soon  as 
they  saw  her,  they  went  and  hid  themselves 
at  the  bottom  of  the  water.  So  the  Stork  went 
home  and  slept,  and  having  slept  she  arose  up 
early  and  went  back  again  to  the  brook,  without 
being  observed  by  the  Toads;  she  went  softly, 
and  lay  down  by  the  side  of  the  water,  pre- 
tending to  be  dead,  stretched  out  her  legs,  her 
wings,  and  her  mouth,  and  shut  her  eyes.  Thus 
she  lay,  until  at  break  of  day  when  one  Toad 
arose,  and,  finding  that  it  was  day,  came  forth 


AFRICAN  FABLES  183 

and  saw  the  Stork  lying.  He  went  back,  and 
called  all  the  Toads: 

"Come,  behold,  I  have  seen  something  dead, 
lying  at  the  door  of  our  house,  and  when  I  had 
seen  it  I  came  back  to  call  you. " 

So  all  the  Toads  arose  and  followed  him,  and 
having  come  out,  they  all  saw  a  Stork  lying 
at  the  door  of  their  house;  but  they  did  not  know 
that  the  Stork  was  more  cunning  than  themselves. 
They  returned  home,  called  a  council  together 
and  said:  "What  shall  we  do?  Some  one  who 
came,  we  do  not  know  whence,  has  died  before 
the  gate  of  our  town."  All  their  great  men 
answered,  and  said,  "Arise  all  of  you,  go  out, 
drag  this  dead  body  far  away,  and  leave  it 
there." 

So  they  all  arose,  went,  and,  taking  the  Stork 
by  its  wings  and  legs,  dragged  it  away. 

The  Stork  was  cunning;  she  saw  them  without 
their  knowing  it.  They  sang,  as  they  dragged 
her  away : 

"  Drag  her  and  leave  her !  Drag  her  and  leave 
her!" 

The  Stork  did  not  speak  to  them,  as  they  all 
dragged  her  away,  although  she  saw  them.  Now 
when  they  had  carried  her  far  away,  the  Stork 
opened  her  eyes,  which  when  they  saw  they  all 
began  to  run  away.  As  soon  as  the  Stork  saw 


184  THE.  TALKING  BEASTS 

that  the  Toads  had  begun  to  run  away,  she 
arose,  and  pursued  them;  having  overtaken 
one,  she  took  and  swallowed  it,  and  went  on 
taking  and  swallowing  them.  The  Toads  kept 
running,  but  by  the  time  they  would  have  got 
home  the  Stork  had  swallowed  them  all,  one 
by  one.  She  had  filled  her  bag,  and  then  started 
on  her  way  home.  As  soon  as  her  children 
saw  her,  they  all  ran  to  their  mother,  saying, 
"Our  mother  has  brought  us  food."  When 
they  came  their  mother  threw  all  the  Toads 
in  her  bag  down  to  her  children,  and  her  chil- 
dren ate  them,  so  that  their  hunger  was  appeased. 
The  Stork  arose,  went  to  her  friend,  and  said : 
"My  friend,  what  thou  toldest  me  yesterday 
is  excellent:  I  went  and  lay  down  by  the  side 
of  the  brook,  and  when  the  Toads  saw  me  in 
the  morning,  they  thought  I  was  dead;  they 
came,  dragged  me  along,  and  when  they  had 
carried  me  far  away,  not  knowing  that  I  was 
wiser  than  they  and  thinking  that  I  was  dead, 
I  opened  mine  eyes  to  look  at  them;  but  on 
seeing  me  open  mine  eyes,  they  all  began  to 
run  away.  Then  I  arose,  pursued  them,  and 
when  I  had  overtaken  one,  I  took  and  swallowed 
it;  and  when  I  had  overtaken  a  second  I  took 
and  swallowed  it;  so  by  the  time  they  would  have 
reached  home  I  had  swallowed  them  all,  and 


AFRICAN  FABLES  185 

filled  my  bag  with  them.  I  brought  them  to 
my  children,  and  when  my  children  were  around 
me,  I  threw  the  Toads  before  them  out  of  the 
bag  and  they  ate  them,  that  their  hunger  was 
appeased." 

She  also  thanked  her  friend,  saying:  "God 
bless  thee;  thou  hast  taught  me  an  excellent 
device." 

Thus  the  Stork  and  her  friend  devised  a  plan, 
and  thus  they  were  able  to  maintain  their 
children  while  the  Toads  were  sitting  in  their 
house. 

So  now,  when  the  Toads  are  croaking  in  a 
brook,  and  they  see  any  one  come,  they  are  all 
quite  silent,  supposing  that  a  Stork  is  coming. 

This  fable  of  the  Stork  and  Toads,  which  I 
heard,  is  now  finished. 

The  Rat  and  the  Toad 

THE  Toad  said  to  the  Rat,  "I  can  do  more 
than  thou." 

The  Rat  replied  to  the  Toad:  "Thou  dost 
not  know  how  to  run;  having  flung  thyself 
anywhere  thou  stoppest  there.  This  is  all  thy 
run;  and  wilt  thou  say  that  thou  canst  do  more 
than  I?" 

When  the  Toad  had  heard  the  words  of  the 
Rat  he  said  to  him:  "If,  according  to  thy 


186  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

opinion,  I  cannot  do  more  than  thou,  thou  shalt 
see  what  I  will  begin  to  do  to-morrow;  and  if 
thou  beginnest  and  doest  the  same,  without 
anything  happening  to  thee,  thou  canst  do 
more  than  I. " 

The  Rat  agreed  to  the  Toad's  proposal,  and 
went  to  see  the  Toad. 

The  Toad  prepared  himself,  and  when  the 
sun  reached  about  the  middle,  between  the 
horizon  and  the  zenith,  the  great  men  felt  its 
heat,  and  went  to  sit  down  in  the  shade  of  a  tree. 
The  Toad  on  seeing  this,  arose,  went  to  where 
the  men  were  sitting,  and  passed  through  the 
midst  of  them.  When  the  men  observed  him 
they  said:  "If  you  touch  him,  your  hand  will 
become  bitter."  So  no  one  touched  him,  and 
the  Toad  passed  through  and  went  home. 

Then  the  Toad  said  to  the  Rat,  "Didst  thou 
see  me?  Now  if  thou  canst  do  what  I  do,  arise, 
and  begin  to  do  it.  I  will  see!" 

The  Rat,  attending  to  what  the  toad  said, 
got  ready  and  the  following  morning,  when  the 
sun  had  gained  strength  and  the  great  men  had 
stood  up  and  got  under  the  shade  of  a  tree,  the 
Rat  saw  them  sitting  there,  and  went  to  do  what 
the  Toad  had  done;  but  when  he  came  to  where 
the  men  were  sitting,  and  just  went  to  pass 
through  the  midst  of  them,  they  saw  him,  and 


AFRICAN  FABLES  187 

they  all  took  sticks,  and  sought  to  kill  him:  one 
man  attempting  to  kill  him  with  a  stick,  struck 
at  him,  but  did  not  hit  him  well,  the  stick 
touching  him  only  a  little  on  the  back;  so  he 
ran  away  to  the  Toad. 

On  his  arrival  the  Rat  said  to  the  Toad: 
"Brother  Toad,  as  thou  wentest  to  where  the 
people  were  sitting  no  one  said  a  word  to  thee, 
and  thou  earnest  home  again  with  a  sound  skin; 
but  when  I  went,  and  they  saw  me,  just  as  I 
went  to  pass  through  them  they  all  took  sticks, 
and  sought  to  kill  me;  and  one  man  taking  a 
stick  and  striking  at  me  to  kill  me,  our  Lord 
helped  me,  that  the  stick  hit  me  only  a  little 
on  the  back;  so  I  ran  away,  and  came  to  thee. 
I  disputed  with  thee,  thinking  that  I  could  do 
what  thou  doest:  now  to-day  I  have  experienced 
something;  to-morrow  let  us  begin  again  and 
wrhen  I  have  the  experience  of  to-morrow,  I 
shall  be  able  to  give  thee  an  answer." 

The  Toad  said  to  the  Rat:  "The  things  of  to- 
day are  passed;  to-morrow,  when  the  great  men 
have  gone  and  sat  down  under  the  tree,  I  will 
get  ready  and  when  thou  hast  seen  that,  on 
observing  me  come  to  them  and  pass  through 
the  midst  of  them,  they  will  not  say  a  word 
to  me,  thou  also  shalt  do  what  I  did."  So 
the  Rat  then  went  to  see  the  Toad. 


188  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

As  soon  as  the  Toad  saw  the  great  men  sitting 
under  the  tree,  he  again  began,  saying  to  the 
Rat,  "Look  at  me,  as  I  go  to  the  place  where 
the  great  men  are  sitting,  with  a  sound  skin: 
but  if,  on  my  return  from  them,  if  thou  seest 
the  wale  of  a  stick  on  any  part  of  my  body, 
thou  hast  spoken  the  truth,  and  canst  do  more 
than  I." 

The  Toad  got  ready,  and  on  coming  to  where 
the  men  were  sitting  no  one  said  anything  to 
him;  so  he  passed  through  the  midst  of  them, 
and  went  again  to  the  Rat,  saying:  "Look  at 
me!  Look  at  my  whole  body!  Canst  thou  see 
the  wale  of  a  stick?  If  thou  seest  one,  then  tell 
me  of  it!" 

When  the  Rat  had  looked  at  the  Toad's 
whole  body  and  not  seen  any  wale  of  a  stick 
he  said  to  the  Toad: 

"Brother  Toad,  I  have  looked  at  thy  whole 
body,  and  not  seen  any  wale  of  a  stick:  thou 
art  right." 

The  Toad  said  to  the  Rat.  "As  thou  disputest 
with-  me,  and  maintainest  that  thou  canst  do 
what  1  do,  get  up  again,  and  go  to  where  the  great 
men  are  sitting;  and  if  on  seeing  thee,  these  men 
do  not  say  anything  to  thee,  so  that  I  see  thee 
come  back  to  me  again  with  a  sound  skin,  then 
I  know  that  thou  canst  do  more  than  I." 


AFRICAN  FABLES  189 

The  Rat,  attending  to  what  the  Toad  said, 
arose,  got  himself  ready,  and  when  he  saw  the 
great  men  sitting  under  the  tree,  he  went  toward 
them;  but  on  observing  him,  they  said:  "Here 
comes  a  Rat,"  and  they  every  one  took  a  stick, 
and  pursued  him  in  order  to  kill  him;  so  he  ran 
away,  and  as  he  ran,  a  man  with  a  stick  pursued 
him;  saying,  "I  will  not  let  this  Rat  escape." 

The  Rat  ran  until  his  strength  failed  him.  The 
man  pursued  him  with  his  stick,  to  kill  him; 
and  having  come  near  to  him,  he  took  his  stick, 
and  struck  at  him,  with  the  purpose  of  killing 
him;  but  the  stick  did  not  hit  him,  and  God  saved 
him,  his  time  being  not  yet  arrived,  by  showing 
him  a  hole  into  which  he  crept.  When  the  man 
saw  that  he  had  gotten  into  the  hole,  he  went 
back  and  returned  home.  The  Rat,  on  seeing 
that  the  man  had  gone  home,  came  again  out 
.of  the  hole,  and  went  to  the  Toad,  saying  to  him: 

"Brother  Toad,  I  indeed  at  first  disputed  with 
thee,  saying  that  I  could  do  more  than  thou; 
but,  as  for  my  disputing  with  thee,  thou  in 
truth  canst  do  more  than  I:  when  the  people 
saw  thee,  they  did  not  say  a  word  to  thee,  but 
when  they  saw  me,  they  wished  to  kill  me;  if 
our  Lord  had  not  helped  me  and  showed  me  a 
hole,  they,  on  seeing  me,  would  not  have  left, 
but  killed  me;  thou  surpassest  me  in  greatness." 


190  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

At  that  time  the  Rat  entreated  our  Lord  and 
he  placed  it  in  a  hole,  but  the  Toad  he  placed 
in  the  open  air.  The  Rat  does  not  come  out 
by  day,  before  any  one;  as  to  the  time  when  it 
comes  out  at  night,  it  stretches  its  head  out  of 
the  hole,  and  when  it  does  not  see  anybody 
it  comes  out  to  seek  its  food. 

As  for  the  Toad,  it  conies  out  by  day  and  by 
night,  at  any  time,  whenever  it  likes;  it  comes 
out  and  goes  about,  not  anything  likes  to 
molest  it;  it  is  bitter,  no  one  eats  it  on  account 
of  its  bitterness;  the  Toad  is  left  alone;  therefore 
it  goes  about  wherever  it  likes. 

The  Rat  does  not  come  out  of  its  hole  and  walk 
about  except  at  night. 

"What  the  Toad  and  the  Rat  did,  this  I  heard, 
and  have  told  to  thee.  This  fable  of  the  Toad 
and  the  Rat  is  now  finished. 

The  Lion  and  the  Wild  Dog 

THE  Lion  said  to  the  Wild  Dog  that  he  did 
not  fear  any  one  in  the  forest  except  these  four, 
viz.,  tree-leaves,  grass,  flies,  and  earth,  and  when 
the  Wild  Dog  said,  "There  is  certainly  one 
stronger  than  thou,"  the  Lion  replied  to  the 
Wild  Dog,  "I  kill  the  young  ones  of  the  elephant, 
the  wild  cow,  and  the  leopard,  and  bring  them 
to  my  children  to  be  eaten.  If  I  give  one  roar, 


AFRICAN  FABLES  191 

all  the  beasts  of  the  forest  tremble,  every  one  of 
them,  on  hearing  me  roar-  none  is  greater  than 
I  within  this  forest. 

The  Wild  Dog  said  to  the  Lion,  "As  thou 
sayest  that  thou  fearest  not  any  one  in  this 
forest,  so  let  us  go  and  show  me  thy  house; 
and  I  will  come  and  call  thee,  in  order  to  show 
thee  a  place  where  a  black  bird  conies  to  eat, 
as  soon  as  I  shall  see  him  again. " 

The  Lion  took  the  Wild  Dog  with  him  and 
showed  him  his  house;  and  then  the  Wild  Dog 
went  home. 

The  next  day,  when  a  hunter  was  come  to  the 
forest  the  Wild  Dog,  on  seeing  him,  went  to  the 
Lion's  house,  and  said  to  the  Lion : 

"Brother  Lion,  come,  and  follow  me,  and  I 
will  show  thee  something  which  I  have  seen." 

The  Lion  arose  and  followed  the  Wild  Dog,  and 
when  they  were  come  to  where  the  hunter  was, 
the  hunter  prepared  himself:  he  had  put  on 
his  forest  garment,  had  sewn  the  bill  of  a  long 
bird  to  his  cap,  and  put  it  on  his  head,  and  he 
walked  as  a  bird.  The  Wild  Dog,  seeing  him, 
said  to  the  Lion: 

"Brother  Lion,  yonder  is  that  black  bird. 
Go  and  catch  him,  and  when  thou  hast  caught 
him,  please  give  me  one  of  his  legs,  for  I  want 
it  for  a  charm. " 


192  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Lion  attended  to  what  the  Wild  Dog  said, 
and  went  softly  to  where  the  bird  was;  but  the 
Wild  Dog  ran  back. 

The  Lion  went,  thinking,  "I  will  kill  the  bird, " 
but  he  did  not  know  that  on  seeing  him  the 
hunter  had  prepared  himself,  and  taken  out  his 
arrow;  so,  as  he  thought,  "I  will  go  and  seize 
the  bird,"  and  was  come  close  to  the  hunter, 
the  hunter  shot  an  arrow  at  the  Lion  and  hit 
him.  Then  the  Lion  fell  back,  and  having  got 
up  and  fallen  down  three  times,  the  arrow 
took  effect  and  he  felt  giddy.  In  the  same 
moment  the  hunter  had  disappeared1  so  that  he 
saw  him  no  more.  Then  the  Lion  recovered 
his  courage  and  went  very  gently  home. 

On  his  arrival  at  home  the  Wild  Dog  said  to 
him: 

"Brother  Lion,  as  thou  saidst  to  me  that 
thou  art  not  afraid  of  any  one  in  the  world 
except  our  Lord,  tree-leaves,  grass,  flies,  and 
dirt,  why  didst  thou  not  catch  that  black 
bird  which  I  showed  thee,  and  bring  it  to  thy 
children?" 

The  Lion  replied,  "This  man's  strength  is 
greater  than  mine." 


1  This  refers  to  the  universal  belief  that  hunters  are  able  to  render 
themselves  invisible,  in  moments  of  danger,  by  the  operation  of  charms 
and  witchcraft. 


AFRICAN  FABLES  193 

Then  the  Wild  Dog  said  again,  "Thou  saidst 
that  thou  fearest  no  one,  except  grass,  flies,  earth 
and  tree-leaves;  thou  fearest,  lest  when  thou 
enterest  the  forest,  the  leaves  of  trees  should 
touch  thee,  or  lest  grass  should  touch  thy  body, 
or  lest  flies  should  sit  on  thy  skin;  thou  also 
fearest  to  lie  upon  the  bare  earth,  and  thou 
fearest  our  Lord,  who  created  thee:  all  these 
thou  fearest,  '  but  not  any  other  I  fear  within 
this  forest,'  thou  saidst;  and  yet  I  showed  thee 
a  bird,  the  which  thou  couldst  not  kill,  but  thou 
leftest  it,  and  rannest  home;  now  tell  me  how 
this  bird  looks?" 

The  Lion  answered  and  said  to  the  Wild  Dog: 
"Wild  Dog,  what  thou  saidst  is  true,  and  I 
believe  it;  a  black  man  is  something  to  be 
feared;  if  we  do  not  fear  a  black  man  neither 
shall  we  fear  our  Lord  who  created  us." 

Now  all  the  wild  beasts  which  God  has  created 
hunt  for  their  food  in  the  forest,  and  eat  it; 
but  as  soon  as  they  see  one  black  man  standing, 
they  do  not  stop  and  wait,  but  run  away.  Now 
the  following  beasts  are  dangerous  in  the  forest : 
viz.,  the  leopard,  the  lion,  the  wild  cow,  the  wild 
dog  and  the  hyena;  but  when  they  see  a  black 
man,  they  do  not  stop  and  wait.  As  for  the 
dispute  which  the  Lion  and  the  Wild  Dog  had, 
the  Wild  Dog  was  right,  and  the  Lion  gave  him 


194  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

his  right;  then  they  shook  hands  again,  and  each 
went  and  ran  to  his  own  home.  This  fable, 
which  I  heard,  respecting  the  Wild  Dog  and  the 
Lion,  is  now  finished. 

Hmo  Sense  Was  Distributed 

IN  THE  beginning  not  one  of  all  the  beasts  of 
the  forest  was  endowed  with  sense:  when  they 
saw  a  hunter  come  to  them  intending  to  kill 
them,  they  stood  and  looked  at  the  hunter,  and 
so  the  hunter  killed  them;  day  after  day  he 
killed  them.  Then  our  Lord  sent  one  who  put 
all  the  sense  into  a  bag,  tied  it,  carried  it,  and 
put  it  down  under  a  large  tree. 

The  Weasel  saw  the  man  put  the  bag  down, 
and  afterward  went,  called  the  Hare,  and  said 
to  him: 

"Brother  Hare,  I  saw  a  man  put  something 
down  under  a  tree,  but  as  I  went  to  take  it,  I 
could  not;  so  let  us  go  and  if  thou  wilt  take  it  I 
will  show  it  to  thee  that  thou  mayest  do  so. " 

WTien  the  Weasel  and  the  Hare  had  gone 
together  to  where  the  bag  was,  the  Weasel  said 
to  the  Hare,  "Behold,  here  is  the  thing  which  I 
could  not  take  and  for  which  I  called  thee  here. " 

But  as  the  Hare  went  and  attempted  to  take 
it,  he  could  not,  so  he  left  it  and  went  away. 


"WHEN  THE  WEASEL  AND  THE  HAHE  HAD  GONE  TOGETHEB  TO 
WHERE  THE  BAG  WAS,  THE  WEASEL  SAID  TO  THE  HARE,  'BEHOLD, 
HERE  IS  THE  THING  WHICH  I  COULD  NOT  TAKE  AND  FOE  WHICH 
I  CALLED  THEE  HEBE*  " 


AFRICAN  FABLES  195 

When  he  was  gone  the  Weasel  went  again  to 
take  hold  of  the  bag,  but  as  he  attempted  to  take 
it,  it  was  too  heavy ;  so  the  WTeasel  did  not  know 
what  to  do.  Then  came  a  Pigeon,  who  sat  upon  a 
tree,  and  said  something  to  the  Weasel.  The 
Weasel  heard  it  say:  "Lean  it  over  and  take  it." 
And  again,  "Bend  it  and  take  it." 

As  soon  as  he  had  heard  this,  he  dragged  the 
bag  along  and  thus  brought  it  and  leaned  it 
against  a  tree,  and  caused  it  to  stand  in  an 
inclined  position;  then  having  gone  to  the 
bottom  of  it,  he  bowed  down,  put  his  head  to 
the  bag,  and  as  he  drew  the  bag  toward  him  it 
went  upon  his  head;  this  being  done,  he  pressed 
himself  upon  the  ground,  rose  up  and  stood  there. 
After  this  he  went  his  way  home,  and  on  putting 
the  bag  down  upon  the  ground  and  untying  it, 
the  Weasel  saw  that  there  was  no  other  thing 
in  the  bag,  but  pure  sense. 

So  he  went  and  called  the  Hare  again,  and 
when  the  Hare  was  come,  he  said  to  him: 

"Brother  Hare,  there  was  not  a  single  other 
thing  in  that  bag  but  pure  sense:  God  has  loved 
us  so  that  to-day  we  have  obtained  sense;  but 
do  not  tell  it  to  anybody,  then  I  will  give  thee 
a  little,  and  wrhat  remains  I  will  hide  in  my  hole 
until  some  one  comes  and  begs  of  me,  and  then 
I  will  give  him  also  a  little." 


196  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

So  he  took  one  sense  and  gave  to  the  Hare, 
saying,  "If  thou  takest  home  this  one  sense, 
which  I  give  thee,  it  will  preserve  thee.  When 
thou  sleepest  by  day  open  thy  eyes;  then  if  one 
comes  to  thee,  thinking,  'I  have  got  meat,  I  will 
take  it,'  and  sees  that  thine  eyes  are  open,  he 
will  think  that  thou  art  not  asleep,  will  leave 
thee  alone  and  go ;  but  when  thou  goest  and  liest 
down  without  sleeping,  then  shut  thine  eyes,  and 
if  one  sees  thee,  and  sees  that  thine  eyes  are 
shut,  when  he  comes  close  to  thee,  saying,  'I 
have  got  meat,  I  will  take  it,'  then  thou  wilt  see 
him,  rise  up  and  run  away  into  thy  forest. 
This  one  sense  will  be  enough  for  thee;  but  what 
remains  I  will  keep  in  mine  own  house."  The 
Hare  took  his  one  sense  and  went  home. 

Now  if  one  sees  a  Hare  lying  with  his  eyes 
open,  it  sleeps,  but  if  its  eyes  are  closed  it  is 
awake,  and  does  not  sleep.  By  this  one  sense 
which  it  has  got  the  Hare  is  preserved. 

The  Weasel  took  all  the  sense  that  was  left 
and  hid  it  in  his  house.  The  WTeasel  surpasses 
all  the  beasts  of  the  field  in  sense.  When  you  see 
the  Weasel,  and  say,  "There  the  King  of  Sense 
has  come  out,"  and  drive  it  before  you,  saying, 
"I  will  catch  it,"  it  runs  into  its  hole;  and  if 
you  begin  to  dig  up  the  hole,  it  comes  out  be- 
hind you,  and  runs  until  you  see  it  no  more. 


AFRICAN  FABLES  197 

This  is  why  now  if  one  sees  a  Weasel,  one  calls 
it  "The  King  of  Sense." 

Amongst  all  the  beasts  of  the  field  he  dis- 
tributed sense  only  little  by  little,  and  this  is 
what  they  now  have. 

This  word,  showing  how  sense  came  abroad 
in  the  world,  and  the  meaning  of  which  I  have 
heard,  is  now  finished. 

What  Employment  Our  Lord   Gave   to   Insects 

ALL  the  Insects  assembled  and  went  to  our 
Lord  to  seek  employment.  On  their  arrival 
they  said  to  our  Lord,  "Thou  hast  given  every 
one  his  work;  now  give  us  also  a  work  to  do,  that 
we  may  have  something  to  eat." 

Our  Lord  attended  to  the  request  of  the  In- 
sects, and  said  to  them,  "Who  will  give  notice 
that  to-morrow  all  the  Insects  are  to  come?" 

The  Merchant-insect  arose  and  said  to  our 
Lord,  "The  Cricket  can  give  notice  well." 

So  our  Lord  called  the  Cricket  and  said  to  him 
when  he  was  come,  "Go  and  give  notice  this 
evening,  when  the  sun  has  set,  that  to-morrow 
morning  all  the  Insects  are  to  come  to  me,  for 
I  wish  to  see  them." 

The  Cricket,  obeying  our  Lord's  command, 
went  back  to  his  house,  waited  until  evening, 
until  the  sun  set,  and  as  soon  as  he  had  seen 


198  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

the  setting  of  the  sun,  he  prepared  and  arose  to 
give  notice.  So  when  the  Cricket  had  given 
notice  until  midnight,  our  Lord  sent  a  man  to 
him  saying:  "  Go  and  tell  the  Cricket,  that  there 
has  been  much  notice,  and  that  it  is  now 
enough;  else  he  will  have  the  headache."  But 
the  Cricket  would  not  hear,  he  said:  "If  I 
am  out  they  will  see  me."  So  he  went  into 
his  hole,  stretched  only  his  head  out,  and  began 
to  give  notice.  The  Cricket  went  on  giving 
notice  until  the  day  dawned;  but  when  it  was 
day  he  became  silent  and  stopped  giving  notice. 
Then  all  the  Insects  arose  and  went  to  the 
prayer-place  of  our  Lord,  the  Merchant  alone 
being  left  behind.  To  all  the  Insects  who  came 
first,  our  Lord  gave  their  employment,  which 
they  all  took  and  went  home. 

Afterward  also  the  Merchant-insect  went  ta 
our  Lord,  and  our  Lord  said  to  him:  "To  all 
thy  people  who  came  before,  I  have  given  their 
work,  and  they  are  gone;  now  what  kept  thee 
back  that  thou  earnest  to  me  last?" 

The  Merchant-insect  replied  to  our  Lord,  "My 
bags  are  many  and  on  the  day  when  I  took  my 
bags  and  bound  them  up  in  my  large  travelling 
sacks  to  load  them  upon  my  asses,  then  my 
people  left  me  behind  and  came  to  thee  first.*' 

Our  Lord   said   to  him:  "All   other  employ 


AFRICAN  FABLES  199 

ments  are  assigned;  the  people  who  came  first 
took  them  and  went  away;  but  stop,  I  will  also 
give  one  to  thee.  Go,  and  having  arrived  at 
the  entrance  of  the  black  ants,  where  are  a 
great  many  ant-heads,  when  thou  seest  these 
many  heads  of  the  black  ants,  take  them,  and 
fill  thy  bags  with  them;  then  load  thy  bags 
upon  thy  ass,  carry  them  to  market,  spread 
mats  there,  and  sell  them." 

So  the  Merchant-insect  obtained  his  employ- 
ment, drove  his  ass,  and  went  from  our  Lord, 
picked  up  ant-heads  at  the  entrance  of  the  black 
ants,  loaded  his  ass,  and  went  his  way  to  the 
market.  As  he  went  the  ass  threw  off  the  large 
bag.  Then,  he  alone  not  being  able  to  lift  the 
bag,  he  called  people,  saying:  "Come,  be  so 
good  as  to  help  me;  let  us  take  the  sacks  and 
load  mine  ass;"  but  not  any  of  the  people 
would  do  so.  Then  the  little  red  ants  came 
after  him,  and  when  they  were  come  to  where 
he  was,  he  said  to  them,  "Please  come  and  help 
me  to  load  mine  ass".  The  little  red  Ants 
said  to  the  Merchant-insect,  "We  will  not  help 
thee  for  nothing. " 

The  Merchant-insect  said  to  the  little  red 
Ants,  "If  you  will  not  help  me  for  nothing,  then 
come  and  help  me,  and  when  I  have  come 
back  from  the  market,  I  will  pay  you." 


200  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  littled  red  Ants  helped  him  to  load  his 
ass,  and  the  Merchant-insect  drove  his  ass  to 
the  market,  put  down  his  sacks  in  the  midst 
of  the  market-place,  prepared  the  ground,  spread 
his  mat  there,  and  having  sold  his  ant-heads, 
he  bought  his  things,  and  the  market  people 
began  to  disperse. 

Then  the  Merchant-insect  started  on  his  way 
home,  and  as  he  went  the  little  red  Ants  saw 
him,  and  said  to  him,  "Father-merchant,  give 
us  what  thou  owest  us. " 

The  Merchant,  however,  refused  them  their 
due,  and  went  on  his  way.  Now  as  he  went  he 
got  fever  so  that  he  sat  down  under  a  tree, 
tied  his  ass  fast,  and  took  off  the  sacks  from  his 
ass's  back.  As  he  sat  there  the  fever  over- 
powered him,  and  he  lay  down.  On  seeing  him 
lying  the  little  red  Ants  assembled  and  came 
to  him.  Now  the  fever  was  consuming  the  Mer- 
chant-insect's strength,  and  when  the  little 
red  Ants  saw  this  they  assembled  together  and 
killed  him. 

There  was  one  Insect  who  saw  them  kill  him, 
and  he  ran  to  our  Lord,  and  said  to  him,  "All 
the  little  red  Ants  assembled  together  and  killed 
a  man  in  the  midst  of  the  town  —  that  I  saw  it." 

When  our  Lord  heard  what  the  Insect  said 
he  called  a  man  and  sent  him,  saying:  "Go  and 


AFRICAN  FABLES  201 

call  the  little  red  Ants  which  kill  people  and 
bring  them  to  me. " 

The  messenger  arose,  *went,  called  all  the  little 
red  Ants  and  brought  them  before  our  Lord. 
On  seeing  the  little  red  Ants,  our  Lord  asked 
them,  "Why  did  you  kill  the  man?"  The  little 
red  Ants  answered,  and  said  to  our  Lord, 
"The  reason  why  we  killed  this  man  is  this: 
When  he  went  to  market  and  his  ass  had 
thrown  off  the  sacks,  those  sacks  were  too  heavy 
for  him  to  take  alone,  so  he  called  us,  and  when 
we  came  to  him,  he  said  to  us,  'Please  help  me 
to  take  my  large  bag  and  load  it  upon  mine  ass, 
that  I  may  go  to  market.  When  I  have  sold  my 
things  and  come  back,  I  will  pay  you/  Accord- 
ingly we  helped  him  to  load  his  ass ;  but  when  he 
had  gone  to  market  and  sold  all  his  things  there, 
we  saw  him  on  his  return  home,  and  went  to 
him,  to  ask  him  for  what  he  owed  us;  but  he 
refused  it,  drove  his  ass,  and  went  homeward. 
However,  he  was  only  gone  a  little  while,  when 
he  got  fever,  sat  down  under  a  tree,  tied  his  ass 
fast,  took  off  his  sacks  and  laid  them  down; 
and  on  the  same  spot  where  he  sat  down,  the 
fever  overpowered  him  that  he  lay  down. 
Then  on  seeing  him  lying  we  went,  assembled 
ourselves  and  killed  him,  because  he  had 
refused  what  he  owed  us. " 


202  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Our  Lord  gave  them  right. 

Our  Lord  said  to  the  Merchant,  "Thou  goest 
to  market  until  thy  life  stands  still."  Our 
Lord  said  to  the  Cricket,  "Do  thou  give  notice 
whenever  it  is  time !  This  is  thy  work. " 

Our  Lord  said  to  the  little  red  Ants,  "When- 
ever ye  see  any  Insect  unwell  and  lying  down  in  a 
place,  then  go,  assemble  yourselves  and  finish  it." 

Now  the  Cricket  begins  to  give  notice  as 
soon  as  it  is  evening  and  does  not  keep  silence 
in  his  hole  until  the  morning  comes;  this  is  its 
employment.  The  Merchant  has  no  farm  and 
does  not  do  any  work,  but  constantly  goes  to 
market;  this  is  its  employment,  given  to  it  by  the 
Lord.  Now  the  litle  red  Ants,  whenever  they 
see  an  Insect  unwell  and  lying  down  they  go 
and  assemble  themselves  against  that  Insect, 
and,  even  if  that  Insect  has  not  yet  expired 
they  finish  it.  This  our  Lord  gave  to  the  little 
red  Ants  for  their  employment. 

I  have  now  told  thee  the  fable  of  the  Insects, 
which  I  have  heard  of  Omar  Pesami.  This  is 

finished. 

Man  and  Turtle 

LET  me  tell  of  Turtle  of  Koka. 

Man  of  Lubi  la  Suku  caught  a  Turtle  in  the 
bush;  he  came  with  it  to  the  village.  They 
said:  "Let  us  kill  it!" 


AFRICAN  FABLES  203 

Some  people  said:  "How  shall  we  kill  it?" 
They  said:  "We  shall  cut  it  with  hatchets." 
Turtle  replied,  saying: 

"Turtle    of    Koka, 
And   hatchet   of   Koka; 
Hatchet  not  kill  me  a  bit." 

The  people  said:  "What  shall  we  kill  him 
with?"  Some  said:  "We  shall  kill  him  with 
stones."  Turtle,  fear  grasped  him,  he  said:  "I 
am  going  to  die. "  He  says  by  mouth : 

"Turtle  of  Koka, 
And  stone  of  Koka; 
Stone  will  not  kill  me  a  bit." 

The  people  said:  "Let  us  cast  him  into  the 
fire!"  Turtle  said: 

"Turtle  of  Koka, 
And  fire  of  Koka; 
Fire  will  not  kill  me  a  bit. 
On  my  back, 
It  is  like  stone; 
Not   there   can 
Catch  on  fire." 

The  people  said:  "We  will  kill  him  with 
knives."  Turtle  said: 

"Turtle  of  Koka, 
And  knife  of  Koka; 
Knife  will  not  kill  me  a  bit." 


204  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  people  said:  "This  fellow,  how  shall  we 
do?  How  shall  we  kill  him?"  These  said: 
"Let  us  cast  him  into  the  depth  of  water." 
Turtle  said:  "Woe!  I  shall  die  there!  How  shall 
I  do?  "  The  people  said :  "  We  have  it !  We  have 
found  the  way  we  can  kill  him!" 

They  carry  him;  they  arrive  with  him  at  the 
river.  They  cast  him  into  the  depth.  Turtle 
dives;  after  a  while  he  emerges.  There  he  is 
swimming  and  singing: 

"In  water,  in  my  home! 
In  water,  in  my  home!" 

The  people  said:  "Oh!  Turtle  has  fooled  us. 
We  were  going  to  kill  him  with  hatchets;  he 
says,  'Hatchet  will  not  kill  me  a  bit.'  We  spoke 
of  casting  him  into  the  water;  he  says,  *I  am 
going  to  die.5  We  came;  we  cast  him  into  the 
water;  but  we  saved  him." 

This  is  what  caused  the  Turtle  to  live  in  the 
water:  the  people  were  going  to  kill  him;  but 
he  was  shrewd. 

Nianga  Dia  Ngenga  and  Leopard 

NIANGA  DIA  NGENGA  takes  up  his  gun,  saying: 
"I  will  go  a-hunting."  He  has  reached  the 
bush;  he  has  hunted;  he  saw  not  game;  he  says: 
"I  will  go." 


AFRICAN  FABLES  205 

When  he  returns  home,  he  finds  Mr.  Leopard, 
whom  they  have  stuck  up  in  the  fork  of  a  tree. 
When  he  sees  Nianga,  he  says:  "Father  Nianga, 
help  me  out ! "  Nianga  says :  "  What  has  done  this 
to  thee?"  He  says:  "Unfork  me  first;  I  shall 
tellthee." 

Nianga  took  him  out;  he  set  him  on  the  ground. 
He  says:  "Elephant  has  stuck  me  up  in  the  fork 
of  the  tree.  Sir,  to  whom  one  has  given  life,  one 
gives  more.  I  have  been  two  days  on  the  tree; 
give  me  a  little  food."  Nianga  'says:  "Where 
shall  I  find  food?"  He  says:  "Anywhere." 

Nianga  takes  up  his  dog;  he  gives  it  to  Mr. 
Leopard.  Mr.  Leopard  ate  it  and  said,  "I 
am  not  satisfied."  Nianga  takes  up  also  the 
other  dog;  he  gives  it  to  Mr.  Leopard.  He 
has  eaten,  says,  "Still  I  have  not  enough." 
Nianga  dia  Ngenga  took  up  his  cartridge-box; 
he  gives  him  it.  Mr.  Leopard,  when  he  had 
eaten  it,  said,  "Still  I  have  not  enough." 

Hare  comes;  he  finds  them  talking;  says: 
"Why  are  you  quarrelling?"  Nianga  says: 
"Mr.  Leopard,  I  found  him  in  the  fork  of  a  tree. 
Says  he,  Take  me  out!'  I  took  him  out. 
Says  he,  'Give  me  to  eat!'  I  gave  him  both 
my  dogs  and  my  cartridge-box.  He  says, 
'Give  me  more  to  eat.'  That  is  what  we  are 
quarrelling  about." 


206  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Hare  says:  "Mr.  Leopard,  let  him  be  again 
on  the  tree,  where  he  was;  that  I  may  see." 
Mr.  Leopard  returns  to  the  tree,  where  he  was. 
Hare  moves  off  to  a  distance;  he  calls  Nianga. 
He  says:  "Thou,  Nianga,  art  unwise.  Mr. 
Leopard  is  a  wild  beast,  he  is  wont  to  catch 
people.  Thou,  who  didst  get  him  out  of  there, 
he  wanted  to  devour  thee.  Shoot  him. " 

Nianga  then  shoots  Mr.  Leopard. 

The  end     .     .     .     "is  with  God." 

Leonard  and  the  Other  Animals 

MR.  LEOPARD  lived.  One  day  hunger  grasps 
him.  He  says:  "How  shall  I  do?  I  will  call  all 
the  animals  in  the  world,  saying,  'Come  ye, 
let  us  have  a  medical  consultation.'  When  the 
animals  come  then  I  may  catch  and  eat. " 

He  sends  at  once  to  call  Deer,  Antelope,  Soko, 
Hare,  and  Philantomba.  They  gather,  saying: 
"Why  didst  thou  send  for  us?"  He  says: 
"Let  us  consult  medicine,  that  we  get  health." 

The  sun  is  broken  down.  They  begin  the 
drums  outside  with  the  songs.  Mr.  Leopard 
himself  is  beating  the  drum;  he  is  saying,  saying: 

"O  Antelope!  0  Deer! 
Your  friend  is  sick; 
Do  not  shun  him! 
O  Antelope!  O  Deer! 


AFRICAN  FABLES  207 

Your  friend  is  sick; 
Do  not  shun  him! 
O  Antelope!  O  Deer! 
Your    friend    is    sick; 
Do  not  shun  him!" 

Deer  says:  "Chief,  the  drum,  how  art  thou 
playing  it?  Bring  it  here;  that  I  play  it." 
Mr.  Leopard  gives  him  it.  Deer  takes  the  drum, 

says: 

"Not  sickness; 
Wiliness  holds  thee 
Not  sickness; 
Wiliness  holds  thee! 
Not  sickness; 
Wiliness  holds  thee!" 

Mr.  Leopard  stood  up  from  ground,  said: 
"Thou,  Deer,  knowest  not  how  to  play  the 
drum." 

The  animals  all  then  ran  away,  saying, 
"Mr.  Leopard  has  a  scheme  to  catch  us." 

Elephant  and  Frog 

I  OFTEN  tell  of  Mr.  Elephant  and  Mr.  Frog, 
who  were  courting  at  one  house. 

One  day  Mr.  Frog  spake  to  the  sweetheart  of 
Mr.  Elephant,  saying:  "Mr.  Elephant  is  my 
horse. "  Mr.  Elephant,  when  he  came  at  night, 
then  the  girls  tell  him,  saying:  "Thou  art  the 
horse  of  Mr.  Frog!" 


208  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Mr.  Elephant  then  goes  to  Mr.  Frog's,  say- 
ing: "Didst  thou  tell  my  sweetheart  that  I 
am  thy  horse?"  Mr.  Frog  says,  saying:  "No; 
I  did  not  say  so."  They  go  together  to  find 
the  sweetheart  of  Mr.  Elephant. 

On  the  way,  Mr.  Frog  told  Mr.  Elephant, 
saying:  "Grandfather,  I  have  not  strength 
to  walk.  Let  me  get  up  on  thy  back!"  Mr. 
Elephant  said:  "Get  up,  my  grandson."  Mr. 
Frog  then  goes  up. 

When  a  while  passed,  he  told  Mr.  Elephant: 
"Grandfather,  I  am  going  to  fall.  Let  me  seek 
small  cords  to  bind  thee  in  mouth."  Mr. 
Elephant  consents.  Mr.  Frog  then  does  what 
he  has  asked. 

When  passed  a  little  while,  he  told  again  Mr. 
Elephant,  saying:  "Let  me  seek  a  green  twig  to 
fan  the  mosquitoes  off  thee."  Mr.  Elephant 
says:  "Go."  He  then  fetches  the  twig. 

Then,  when  they  were  about  to  arrive, 
the  girls  saw  them,  and  they  went  to  meet  them 
with  shouting,  saying:  "Thou,  Mr.  Elephant, 
art  the  horse  indeed  of  Mr.  Frog!" 

Dog  and  the  Kingship 

MR.  DOG,  they  wanted  to  invest  him  with 
the  kingship.  They  sought  all  the  things  of 
royalty:  the  cap,  the  sceptre,  the  rings,  the  skin 


AFRICAN  FABLES  209 

of  mulkaka.  The  things  are  complete ;  they  say : 
"The  day  has  come  to  install." 

The  headmen  all  came  in  full;  they  sent  for 
the  players  of  drum  and  marimba;  they  have 
come.  They  spread  coarse  mats  and  fine  mats. 
Where  the  lord  is  going  to  sit,  they  laid  a  coarse 
mat;  they  spread  on  it  a  fine  mat;  they  set 
a  chair  on.  They  say:  "Let  the  lord  sit 
down."  He  sat  down.  The  people  begin  to 
divide  the  victuals. 

He,  Mr.  Dog,  on  seeing  the  breast  of  a  fowl, 
greed  grasped  him.  He  stood  up  in  haste; 
took  the  breast  of  the  fowl;  ran  into  the  bush. 
The  people  said:  "The  lord,  whom  we  are 
installing,  has  run  away  with  the  breast 
of  the  fowl  into  the  bush!"  The  people  sepa- 
rated. 

Mr.  Dog,  who  was  going  to  be  invested  with 
the  kingship,  because  of  his  thievery,  the  king- 
ship he  lost  it. 

I  have  told  my  little  tale.    Finished. 

The  Builder  of  Ability  and  the  Builder  of  Haste 

Two  men  called  themselves  one  name.  This 
one  said:  "I  am  Ndala,  the  builder  of  ability." 
The  other  one  said:  "I  am  Ndala,  the  builder 
of  haste." 

They  say :  "  We  will  go  to  trade. "   They  start ; 


210  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

they  arrive  in  middle  of  road.  A  storm  comes. 
They  stop,  saying:  "Let  us  build  grass-huts!" 
Ndala,  the  builder  of  haste,  built  in  haste; 
he  entered  into  his  hut.  Ndala,  the  builder  of 
ability  is  building  carefully.  The  storm  comes; 
it  kills  him  outside.  Ndala,  the  builder  of 
haste  escaped,  because  his  hut  was  finished; 
it  sheltered  him  when  the  storm  came  on. 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF 

"Shall not  my  fable  censure  vice, 
Because  a  Knave  is  over-nice? 

And,  lest  the  guilty  hear  and  dread, 
Shall  not  the  decalogue  be  read?'9 

JOHN  GAY 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF 

The  Education  of  the  Lion 

TO  THE  Lion,  king  of  the  forests,  was 
given  a  son. 
Among  us,  a  child  a  year  old,  even  if 
it  belong  to  a  royal  family,  is  small  and  weak. 
But,  by  the  time  it  has  lived  a  twelve-month, 
a  lion-cub  has  long  ago  left  off  its  baby -clothes. 

So,  at  the  end  of  a  year,  the  Lion  began  to 
consider  that  he  must  not  allow  his  royal  son 
to  remain  ignorant,  that  the  dignity  of  the 
kingdom  be  not  degraded,  and  that  when  the 
son's  turn  should  come  to  govern  the  kingdom 
the  nation  should  have  no  cause  to  reproach 
the  father  on  his  account. 

But  whom  should  he  entreat,  or  compel,  or 
induce  by  rewards,  to  instruct  the  czarevitch 
to  become  a  czar? 

The  Fox  is  clever,  but  it  is  terribly  addicted 
to  lying,  and  a  liar  is  perpetually  getting  into 
trouble.  "No,"  thought  the  Lion,  "the  science 
of  falsehood  is  not  one  which  princes  ought  to 
study." 

213 


214          THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Should  he  trust  him  to  the  Mole?  All  who 
speak  of  that  animal  say  that  it  is  an  extreme 
admirer  of  order  and  regularity;  that  it  never 
takes  a  step  till  it  has  examined  the  ground 
before  it,  and  that  it  cleans  and  shells  with  its 
own  paws  every  grain  of  corn  that  comes  to 
its  table.  In  fact,  the  Mole  has  the  reputation 
of  being  very  great  in  small  affairs;  but,  un- 
fortunately, it  cannot  see  anything  at  a  distance. 
The  Mole's  love  of  order  is  an  excellent  thing 
for  animals  of  its  own  kind,  but  the  Lion's 
kingdom  is  considerably  more  extensive  than  a 
mole-run. 

Should  he  choose  the  Panther?  The  Panther 
is  brave  and  strong,  and  is,  besides,  a  great 
master  of  military  tactics;  but  the  Panther 
knows  nothing  of  politics,  is  ignorant  of  every- 
thing that  belongs  to  civil  affairs.  A  king  must 
be  a  judge  and  a  minister  as  well  as  a  warrior. 
The  Panther  is  good  for  nothing  but  fighting; 
so  it,  too,  is  unfit  to  educate  royal  children. 

To  be  brief,  not  a  single  beast,  not  even  the 
Elephant  himself,  who  was  as  much  esteemed  in 
the  forest  as  Plato  used  to  be  in  Greece,  seemed 
wise  enough  to  satisfy  the  Lion. 

By  good  fortune,  or  the  opposite  —  we  shall 
find  out  which  —  another  king,  the  king  of 
birds,  the  Eagle,  an  old  acquaintance  and  friend 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF  215 

of  the  Lion,  heard  of  that  monarch's  difficulty, 
and,  wishing  to  do  his  friend  a  great  kindness, 
offered  to  educate  the  young  Lion  himself . 

The  Lion  felt  a  great  weight  removed  from 
his  shoulders.  What  could  be  better  than  a 
king  as  the  tutor  for  a  prince?  So  the  Lion- 
cub  was  got  ready,  and  sent  off  to  the  Eagle's 
court,  there  to  learn  how  to  govern. 

And  now  two  or  three  years  go  by.  Ask 
whom  you  will,  meanwhile,  you  hear  nothing 
but  praise  of  the  young  Lion;  and  all  the  birds 
scatter  throughout  the  forests  the  wonderful 
stories  of  his  merits. 

At  last  the  appointed  time  comes,  and  the 
Lion  sends  for  his  son.  The  prince  arrives, 
and  all  the  people  are  gathered  together,  great 
and  small  alike. 

The  king  embraces  his  son  before  them  all, 
and  thus  addresses  him:  "My  beloved  son,  you 
are  my  only  heir.  I  am  looking  forward  to  the 
grave,  but  you  are  just  entering  upon  life. 
Before  I  make  over  my  sceptre  to  you,  tell  me, 
in  the  presence  of  this  assembly,  what  you 
have  been  taught,  and  in  what  manner  you 
propose  to  make  your  people  happy." 

"Papa,"  exclaimed  the  prince,  "I  know  what 
no  one  here  knows.  I  can  tell  where  each  bird, 
from  the  Eagle  to  the  Quail,  can  most  readily 


216  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

find  water,  on  what  each  of  them  lives,  and  how 
many  eggs  it  lays;  and  I  can  count  up  the 
wants  of  every  bird,  without  missing  one. 
Here  is  the  certificate  my  tutor  gave  me.  It 
was  not  for  nothing  that  the  birds  used  to  say 
that  I  could  pick  the  stars  out  of  the  sky. 
When  you  have  made  up  your  mind  to  transfer 
the  kingdom  to  me,  I  will  immediately  begin 
to  teach  the  beasts  how  to  make  nests. " 

On  this  the  king  and  all  his  beasts  howled 
aloud;  the  members  of  the  council  hung  their 
heads;  and,  too  late,  the  Lion  perceived  that  the 
young  Lion  had  learned  nothing  of  what  was 
wanted,  that  he  was  acquainted  with  birds 
only,  not  knowing  anything  of  the  nature  of 
beasts,  although  he  was  destined  to  rule  over 
them,  and  that  he  was  destitute  of  that  which 
is  most  requisite  in  kings  —  the  knowledge  of 
the  wants  of  their  own  people  and  the  interests 
of  their  own  country. 

The  Pebble  and  the  Diamond 

A  DIAMOND,  which  some  one  had  lost,  lay 
for  some  time  on  the  high  road.  At  last  it 
happened  that  a  merchant  picked  it  up.  By 
him  it  was  offered  to  the  king,  who  bought  it, 
had'it  set  in  gold,  and  made  it  one  of  the  orna- 
ments of  the  royal  crown.  Having  heard  of 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF  217 

this,  a  Pebble  began  to  make  a  fuss.  The 
brilliant  fate  of  the  Diamond  fascinated  it; 
and,  one  day,  seeing  a  Moujik  passing,  it  be- 
sought him  thus: 

"Do  me  a  kindness,  fellow-countryman,  and 
take  me  with  you  to  the  capital.  Why  should 
I  go  on  suffering  here  in  rain  and  mud,  while 
our  Diamond  is,  men  say,  in  honour  there? 
I  don't  understand  why  it  has  been  treated  with 
such  respect.  Side  by  side  with  me  here  it 
lay  so  many  years;  it  is  just  such  a  stone  as  I 
am  —  my  close  companion.  Do  take  me !  How 
can  one  tell?  If  I  am  seen  there,  I  too,  perhaps, 
may  be  found  worthy  of  being  turned  to  ac-  * 
count." 

The  Moujik  took  the  stone  into  his  lumbering 
cart,  and  conveyed  it  to  the  city.  Our  stone 
tumbled  into  the  cart,  thinking  that  it  would 
soon  be  sitting  by  the  side  of  the  Diamond. 
But  a  quite  different  fate  befell  it.  It  really 
was  turned  to  account,  but  only  to  mend  a 
hole  in  the  road. 

The  Pike  and  the  Cat 

A  CONCEITED  Pike  took  it  into  its  head  to 
exercise  the  functions  of  a  cat.  I  do  not  know 
whether  the  Evil  One  had  plagued  it  with  envy, 
or  whether,  perhaps,  it  had  grown  tired  of  fishy 


218  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

fare;  but,  at  all  events,  it  thought  fit  to  ask 
the  Cat  to  take  it  out  to  the  chase,  with  the 
intention  of  catching  a  few  mice  in  the  ware- 
house. "But,  my  dear  friend,"  Vaska  says  to 
the  Pike,  "do  you  understand  that  kind  of 
work?  Take  care,  gossip,  that  you  don't  incur 
disgrace.  It  isn't  without  reason  that  they 
say:  'The  work  ought  to  be  in  the  master's 
power.' " 

"Why  really,  gossip,  what  a  tremendous  affair 
it  is!  Mice,  indeed!  Why,  I  have  been  in 
the  habit  of  catching  perches!" 

" Oh,  very  well.     Come  along!" 

They  went;  they  lay  each  in  ambush.  The 
Cat  thoroughly  enjoyed  itself;  made  a  hearty 
meal;  then  went  to  look  after  its  comrade. 
Alas !  the  Pike,  almost  destitute  of  life,  lay  there 
gasping,  its  tail  nibbled  away  by  the  mice. 
So  the  Cat,  seeing  that  its  comrade  had  under- 
taken a  task  quite  beyond  its  strength,  dragged 
it  back,  half  dead,  to  its  pond. 

Trishka's  Caftan 

TRISHKA'S  caftan  was  out  at  the  elbows. 
But  why  should  he  ponder  long  over  it?  He 
took  to  his  needle,  cut  a  quarter  off  each  sleeve: 
so  mended  the  elbows. 

The  caftan  was  all  right  again,  only  his  arms 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF  219 

were  bare  for  a  quarter  of  their  length.  That 
is  no  great  matter,  but  every  one  is  always 
laughing  at  Trishka.  So  Trishka  says: 

"I'm  not  a  fool.  I'll  set  this  affair  straight 
also.  I'll  make  the  sleeves  longer  than  they 
were  before.  They  shall  see  Trishka  is  no  mere 
commonplace  fellow." 

So  he  cut  off  the  skirts  of  his  caftan,  and 
used  them  to  lengthen  his  sleeves. 

Then  Trishka  was  happy,  though  he  had  a 
caftan  which  was  as  short  as  a  waistcoat. 

In  a  similar  way  I  have  sometimes  seen  other 
embarrassed  people  set  straight  their  affairs. 
Take  a  look  at  them  as  they  dash  away.  They 
have  all  got  on  Trishka's  caftan. 

The  Elephant  as  Governor 

AN  ELEPHANT  was  once  appointed  ruler  of 
a  forest.  Now  it  is  well  known  that  the  race 
of  elephants  is  endowed  with  great  intelligence; 
but  every  family  has  its  Unworthy  scion.  Our 
Governor  was  as  stout  as  the  rest  of  his  race 
are,  but  as  foolish  as  the  rest  of  his  race  are  not. 
As  to  his  character,  he  would  not  intentionally 
hurt  a  fly.  Well,  the  worthy  Governor  becomes 
aware  of  a  petition  laid  before  him  by  the  Sheep, 
stating  that  their  skins  are  entirely  torn  off 
their  backs  by  the  Wolves. 


220  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"Oh,  rogues!"  cries  the  Elephant,  "what  a 
crime!  Who  gave  you  leave  to  plunder?" 

But  the  Wolves  say: 

"Allow  us  to  explain,  O  father.  Did  not 
you  give  us  leave  to  take  from  the  Sheep  a 
trifling  contribution  for  our  pelisses  in  winter? 
It  is  only  because  they  are  stupid  sheep  that 
they  cry  out.  They  have  only  a  single  fleece 
taken  from  each  of  them,  but  they  grumble 
about  giving  even  that!" 

"Well,  well,"  says  the  Elephant,  "take  care 
what  you  do.  I  will  not  permit  any  one  to 
commit  injustice.  As  it  must  be  so,  take  a 
fleece  from  each  of  them.  But  do  not  take 
from  them  a  single  hair  besides." 

The  Quartette 

THE  tricksy  Monkey,  the  Goat,  the  Ass,  and 
bandy-legged  Mishka  the  Bear,  determine  to 
play  a  quartette.  They  provide  themselves 
with  the  necessary  pieces  of  music  —  with  two 
fiddles,  and  with  an  alto  and  a  counter-bass. 
Then  they  sit  down  on  a  meadow  under  a  lime- 
tree,  prepared  to  enchant  the  world  by  their 
skill.  They  work  away  at  their  fiddlesticks 
with  a  will;  and  they  make  a  noise,  but  there 
is  no  music  in  it. 

"Stop,  brothers,  stop!"   cries  the  Monkey, 


THE   TRICKSY   MONKEY,  THE   GOAT,  THE   ASS   AND   BANDY-LEGGED 
MISHKA   THE   BEAK,    DETERMINE   TO   PLAY   A   QUARTETTE" 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF  221 

"wait  a  little!  How  can  we  get  our  music 
right?  It's  plain,  you  mustn't  sit  as  you 
are.  You,  Mishka,  with  your  counter-bass, 
face  the  alto.  I  will  sit  opposite  the  second 
fiddle.  Then  a  different  sort  of  music  will  be- 
gin: we  shall  set  the  very  hills  and  forests 
dancing." 

So  they  change  places,  and  recommence;  but 
the  music  is  just  as  discordant  as  before. 

"Stop  a  little,"  exclaims  the  Ass;  "I  have 
found  out  the  secret.  We  shall  be  sure  to  play 
in  tune  if  we  sit  in  a  row." 

They  follow  its  advice,  and  form  in  an  orderly 
line.  But  the  quartette  is  as  unmusical  as 
ever.  Louder  than  before  there  arose  among 
them  squabbling  and  wrangling  as  to  how  they 
ought  to  be  seated.  It  happened  that  a  Night- 
ingale came  flying  that  way,  attracted  by  their 
noise.  At  once  they  all  entreated  it  to  solve 
their  difficulty. 

"Be  so  kind,"  they  say,  "as  to  bear  with  us 
a  little,  in  order  that  our  quartette  may  come 
off  properly.  Music  we  have;  instruments  we 
have:  tell  us  only  how  we  ought  to  place  our- 
selves." 

But  the  Nightingale  replies, 

"To  be  a  musician,  one  must  have  a  quicker 
intelligence  and  a  finer  ear  than  you  possess. 


222  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

You,  my  friends,  may  place  yourselves  just  as 
you  like,  but  you  will  never  become  musicians." 

Demian's  Fish  Soup 

"NEIGHBOUR,  light  of  mine  eyes !  do  eat  a  little 
more!" 

"Dear  neighbour,  I  am  full  to  the  throat." 

"No  matter;  just  a  little  plateful.  Believe 
me,  the  soup  is  cooked  gloriously." 

"But  I've  had  three  platefuls  already." 

"Well,  what  does  that  matter?  If  you  like 
it,  and  it  does  you  good,  why  not  eat  it  all  up? 
What  a  soup  it  is!  How  rich!  It  looks  as  if 
it  had  been  sprinkled  with  amber.  Here  is  a 
bream;  there  a  lump  of  sterlet.  Take  a  little 
more,  dear,  kind  friend.  Just  another  spoonful. 
Wife,  come  and  entreat  him!" 

Thus  does  Demian  feast  his  neighbour  Phocas, 
not  giving  him  a  moment's  breathing  time. 

Phocas  feels  the  moisture  trickling  down  his 
forehead.  Still  he  takes  the  soup,  attacks  it  with 
all  the  strength  he  has  left,  and  somehow  man- 
ages to  swallow  the  whole  of  it. 

"That's  the  sort  of  friend  I  like!"  cries  De- 
mian. "I  can't  bear  people  who  require  press- 
ing. But  now,  dear  friend,  take  just  this  one 
little  plateful  more." 

But,  on  hearing  this,  our  poor  Phocas,  much 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF  223 

as  he  liked  fish  soup,  catching  hold  of  his  cap 
and  sash,  runs  away  home,  not  once  looking 
behind  him. 

Nor  from  that  day  to  this  has  he  crossed 
Demian's  threshold. 

The  Wolf  and  Its  Cub 

A  WOLF,  which  had  begun  to  accustom  its 
Cub  to  support  itself  by  its  father's  profession, 
sent  it  one  day  to  prowl  about  the  skirts  of  the 
wood.  At  the  same  time  it  ordered  it  to  give 
all  its  attention  to  seeing  whether  it  would 
not  be  possible,  even  at  the  cost  of  sinning  a 
little,  for  them  both  to  make  their  breakfast  or 
dinner  at  the  expense  of  some  shepherd  or 
other.  The  pupil  returns  home,  and  says: 

"Come  along,  quick!  Our  dinner  awaits  us: 
nothing  could  possibly  be  safer.  There  are 
sheep  feeding  at  the  foot  of  yon  hill,  each  one 
fatter  than  the  other.  We  have  only  to  choose 
which  to  carry  ofi  and  eat;  and  the  flock  is  so 
large  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  count  it  over 
again " 

"Wait  a  minute,"  says  the  Wolf.  "First 
of  all  I  must  know  what  sort  of  a  man  the  shep- 
herd of  this  flock  is. 

"It  is  said  that  he  is  a  good  one  —  pains- 
taking and  intelligent.  But  I  went  round  the 


224  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

flock  on  all  sides,  and  examined  the  dogs: 
they  are  not  at  all  fat,  and  seem  to  be  spiritless 
and  indolent." 

"This  description,"  says  the  old  Wolf,  "does 
not  greatly  attract  me  to  the  flock.  For,  de- 
cidedly, if  the  shepherd  is  good,  he  will  not  keep 
bad  dogs  about  him.  One  might  very  soon 
get  into  trouble  there.  But  come  with  me:  I 
will  take  you  to  a  flock  where  we  shall  be  in 
less  danger  of  losing  our  skins.  Over  that  flock 
it  is  true  that  a  great  many  dogs  watch;  but 
the  shepherd  is  himself  a  fool.  And  where  the 
shepherd  is  a  fool  there  the  dogs  too  are  of 
little  worth." 

The  Pike 

AN  APPEAL  to  justice  was  made  against  the 
Pike,  on  the  ground  that  it  had  rendered  the 
pond  uninhabitable.  A  whole  cart-load  of 
proofs  was  tendered  as  evidence;  and  the  cul- 
prit, as  was  beseeming,  was  brought  into  court 
in  a  large  tub.  The  judges  were  assembled  not 
far  off,  having  been  set  to  graze  in  a  neighbour- 
ing field.  Their  names  are  still  preserved  in 
the  archives.  There  were  two  Donkeys,  a 
couple  of  old  Horses,  and  two  or  three  Goats. 
The  Fox  also  wras  added  to  their  number,  as 
assessor,  in  order  that  the  business  might  be 
carried  on  under  competent  supervision. 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF  225 

Now,  popular  report  said  that  the  Pike  used 
to  supply  the  table  of  the  Fox  with  fish.  How- 
ever this  might  be,  there  was  no  partiality 
among  the  judges;  and  it  must  also  be  stated 
that  it  was  impossible  to  conceal  the  Pike's 
roguery  in  the  affair  in  question.  So  there  was 
no  help  for  it.  Sentence  was  passed,  condemn- 
ing the  Pike  to  an  ignominious  punishment. 
In  order  to  frighten  others,  it  was  to  be  hung 
from  a  tree. 

"Respected  judges,"  thus  did  the  Fox  begin 
to  speak,  "hanging  is  a  trifle.  I  should  have 
liked  to  have  sentenced  the  culprit  to  such  a 
punishment  as  has  never  been  seen  here  among 
us.  In  order  that  rogues  may  in  future  live  in 
fear,  and  run  a  terrible  risk,  I  would  drown  it 
in  the  river." 

"Excellent!"  cry  the  judges,  and  unanimously 
accept  the  proposition. 

So  the  Pike  was  flung  —  into  the  river. 

The  Cuckoo  and  the  Eagle 

THE  Eagle  promoted  a  Cuckoo  to  the  rank 
of  a  Nightingale.  The  Cuckoo,  proud  of  its 
new  position,  seated  itself  proudly  on  an  aspen, 
and  began  to  exhibit  its  musical  talents.  After 
a  time,  it  looks  round.  All  the  birds  are  flying 
away,  some  laughing  at  it,  others  abusing  it. 


226  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Our  Cuckoo  grows  angry,  and  hastens  to  the 
Eagle  with  a  complaint  against  the  birds. 

"Have  pity  on  me!"  it  says.  "According 
to  your  command,  I  have  been  appointed 
Nightingale  to  these  woods,  and  yet  the  birds 
dare  to  laugh  at  my  singing." 

"My  friend,"  answers  the  Eagle,  "I  am 
a  king,  but  I  am  not  God.  It  is  impossible  for 
me  to  remedy  the  cause  of  your  complaint.  I 
can  order  a  Cuckoo  to  be  styled  a  Nightin- 
gale; but  to  make  a  Nightingale  out  of  a  Cuckoo 
—  that  I  cannot  do." 

The  Peasant  and  the  Sheep 

A  PEASANT  summoned  a  Sheep  into  court> 
charging  the  poor  thing  with  a  criminal  offence 
The  judge  was  —  the  Fox. 

The  case  was  immediately  in  full  swing. 
Plaintiff  and  defendant  were  equally  adjured 
to  state,  point  by  point,  and  without  both 
speaking  at  once,  how  the  affair  took  place, 
rind  in  what  their  proof  consisted. 

Says  the  Peasant:  "On  such  and  such  a 
day,  I  missed  two  of  my  fowls  early  in  the  morn- 
ing. Nothing  was  left  of  them  but  bones  and 
leathers;  and  no  one  had  been  in  the  yard  but 
the  Sheep." 

Then  the   Sheep   depones  that  it  was  fast 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF  227 

asleep  all  the  night  in  question,  and  it  calls 
all  its  neighbours  to  testify  that  they  had  never 
known  it  guilty  either  of  theft  or  any  roguery; 
and  besides  this,  it  states  that  it  never  touches 
flesh-meat. 

Here  is  the  Fox's  decision,  word  for  word: 
"The  explanation  of  the  Sheep  cannot, 
under  any  circumstances,  be  accepted,  for  all 
rogues  are  notoriously  clever  at  concealing  their 
real  designs;  and  it  appears  manifest,  on  due 
inquiry,  that,  on  the  aforesaid  night,  the  Sheep 
was  not  separated  from  the  fowls.  Fowls 
are  exceedingly  savoury,  and  opportunity 
favoured.  Therefore  I  decide,  according  to 
my  conscience,  that  it  is  impossible  that  the 
Sheep  should  have  forborne  to  eat  the  fowls. 
The  Sheep  shall  accordingly  be  put  to  death. 
Its  carcass  shall  be  given  to  the  court,  and  its 
fleece  be  taken  by  the  Plaintiff." 

The  Elephant  in  Favour 

ONCE  upon  a  time  the  Elephant  stood  high 
in  the  good  graces  of  the  Lion.  The  forest 
immedately  began  to  talk  of  the  matter,  and, 
as  usual,  many  guesses  were  made  as  to  the 
means  by  which  the  Elephant  had  gained  such 
favour. 

"It  is  no  beauty,"  say  the  beasts  to  each 


223  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

other,  "and  it  is  not  amusing;  and  what  habits 
it  has!  what  manners!" 

Says  the  Fox,  whisking  about  his  brush, 
"If  it  had  possessed  such  a  bushy  tail  as  mine, 
I  should  not  have  wondered." 

"Or,  sister,"  says  the  Bear,  "if  it  had  gotten 
into  favour  on  account  of  its  claws,  no  one 
would  have  found  the  matter  at  all  extra- 
ordinary; but  it  has  no  claws  at  all,  as  we  all 
know  well." 

"Isn't  it  its  tusks  that  have  gotten  it  into 
favour?"  thus  the  Ox  broke  in  upon  their 
conversation.  "Haven't  they,  perhaps,  been 
mistaken  for  horns." 

"Is  it  possible,"  said  the  Ass,  shaking  its  ears, 
"that  you  don't  know  how  it  has  succeeded 
in  making  itself  liked,  and  in  becoming  dis- 
tinguished? Why,  I  have  guessed  the  reason! 
If  it  hadn't  been  remarkable  for  its  long  ears, 
it  would  never  in  the  world  have  gotten  into 
favour." 

The  Sword-blade 

THE  keen  blade  of  a  Sword,  made  of  Damas- 
cus steel,  which  had  been  thrown  aside  on  a 
heap  of  old  iron,  was  sent  to  market  with  the 
other  pieces  of  metal,  and  sold  for  a  trifle  to  a 
Moujik.  Now,  a  Moujik's  ideas  move  in  a 
narrow  circle.  He  immediately  set  to  work  to 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF  229 

turn  the  blade  to  account.  Our  Moujik  fitted 
a  handle  to  the  blade,  and  began  to  strip  lime- 
trees  in  the  forest  with  it,  of  the  bark  he  wanted 
for  shoes,  while  at  home  he  unceremoniously 
splintered  fir  chips  with  it.  Sometimes,  also, 
he  would  lop  off  twigs  with  it,  or  small  branches 
for  mending  his  wattled  fences,  or  would  shape 
stakes  with  it  for  his  garden  paling.  And  the 
result  was  that,  before  the  year  was  out,  our 
blade  was  notched  and  rusted  from  one  end  to 
the  other,  and  the  children  used  to  ride  astride 
of  it.  So  one  day  a  Hedgehog,  which  was  lying 
under  a  bench  in  the  cottage,  close  by  the  spot 
where  the  blade  had  been  flung,  said  to  it: 

"Tell  me,  what  do  you  think  of  this  life  of 
yours?  If  there  is  any  truth  in  all  the  fine 
things  that  are  said  about  Damascus  steel, 
you  surely  must  be  ashamed  of  having  to  splinter 
fir  chips,  and  square  stakes,  and  of  being  turned, 
at  last,  into  a  plaything  for  children." 

But  the  Sword-blade  replied : 

"In  the  hands  of  a  warrior,  I  should  have 
been  a  terror  to  the  foe;  but  here  my  special 
faculties  are  of  no  avail.  So  in  this  house  I 
am  turned  to  base  uses  only.  But  am  I  free 
to  choose  my  employment?  No,  not  I,  but 
he,  ought  to  be  ashamed  who  could  not  see  for 
what  I  was  fit  to  be  employed." 


230  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Cuckoo  and  the  Turtle-dove 

A  CUCKOO  sat  on  a  bough,  bitterly  complain- 
ing. 

"Why  art  thou  so  sad,  dear  friend?"  sym- 
pathizingly  cooed  the  Turtle-dove  to  her,  from 
a  neighbouring  twig.  "Is  it  because  spring 
has  passed  away  from  us,  and  love  with  it; 
that  the  sun  has  sunk  lower,  and  that  we  are 
nearer  to  the  winter?" 

"How  can'  I  help  grieving,  unhappy  one 
that  I  am?  replied  the  Cuckoo:  "thou  shalt 
thyself  be  the  judge.  This  spring  my  love  was 
a  happy  one,  and,  after  a  while,  I  became  a 
mother.  But  my  offspring  utterly  refused 
even  to  recognize  me.  Was  it  such  a  return 
that  I  expected  from  them?  And  how  can  I 
help  being  envious  when  I  see  how  ducklings 
crowd  around  their  mother  —  how  chickens 
hasten  to  the  hen  when  she  calls  to  them.  Just 
like  an  orphan  I  sit  here,  utterly  alone,  and 
know  not  what  filial  affection  means." 

"Poor  thing!"  says  the  Dove,  "I  pity  you 
from  my  heart.  As  for  me,  though  I  know 
such  things  often  occur,  I  should  die  outright 
if  my  dovelets  did  not  love  me.  But  tell  me, 
have  you  already  brought  up  your  little  ones? 
When  did  you  find  time  to  build  a  nest?  I 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF  231 

never  saw  you  doing  anything  of  the  kind:  you 
were  always  flying  and  fluttering  about." 

"No,  indeed!"  says  the  Cuckoo.  "Pretty 
nonsense  it  would  have  been  if  I  had  spent 
such  fine  days  in  sitting  on  a  nest !  That  would, 
indeed,  have  been  the  highest  pitch  of  stupidity ! 
I  always  laid  my  eggs  in  the  nests  of  other 
birds." 

"Then  how  can  you  expect  your  little  ones 
to  care  for  you?"  says  the  Turtle-dove. 

The  Peasant  and  the  Horse 

A  PEASANT  was  sowing  oats  one  day.  See- 
ing the  work  go  on,  a  young  Horse  began  to 
reason  about  it,  grumbling  to  himself: 

"A  pretty  piece  of  work,  this,  for  which  he 
brings  such  a  quantity  of  oats  here!  And  yet 
they  are  all  the  time  saying  that  men  are 
wiser  than  we  are.  Can  anything  possibly 
be  more  foolish  or  ridiculous  than  to  plough 
up  a  whole  field  like  this  in  order  to  scatter 
one's  oats  over  it  afterward  to  no  purpose. 
Had  he  given  them  to  me,  or  to  the  bay  there, 
or  had  he  even  thought  fit  to  fling  them  to  the 
fowls,  it  would  have  been  more  like  business.  Or 
even  if  he  had  hoarded  them  up,  I  should  have 
recognized  avarice  in  that.  But  to  fling  them 
uselessly  away  —  why,  that  is^sheer  stupidity!" 


232  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Meanwhile  time  passed;  and  in  the  autumn 
the  oats  were  garnered,  and  the  Peasant  fed 
this  very  Horse  upon  them  all  the  winter. 

There  can  be  no  doubt,  Reader,  that  you  do 
not  approve  of  the  opinions  of  the  Horse.  But 
from  the  oldest  times  to  our  own  days  has  not 
man  been  equally  audacious  in  criticising  the 
designs  of  a  Providence  of  whose  means  or  ends 
he  sees  and.  knows  nothing? 

The  Wolf  and  the  Cat 

A  WOLF  ran  out  of  the  forest  into  a  village  — 
not  to  pay  a  visit,  but  to  save  its  life;  for  it 
trembled  for  its  skin. 

The  huntsmen  and  a  pack  of  hounds  were 
after  it.  It  would  fain  have  rushed  in  through 
the  first  gateway;  but  there  was  this  unfortunate 
circumstance  against  the  scheme  that  all  the 
gateways  were  closed. 

The  Wolf  sees  a  Cat  on  a  partition  fence, 
and  says  pleadingly ,  "  Vaska,  my  friend,  tell  me 
quickly,  which  of  the  moujiks  here  is  the 
kindest,  so  that  I  may  hide  myself  from  my  evil 
foes?  Listen  to  the  cry  of  the  dogs  and  the 
terrible  sound  of  the  horns?  All  that  noise  is 
actually  made  in  chase  of  me!" 

"Go  quickly,  and  ask  Stefan,"  says  Vaska, 
the  Cat;  "he  is  a  very  kind  man." 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF  233 

"Quite  true;  only  I  have  torn  the  skin  off 
one  of  his  sheep." 

"Well,  then,  you  can  try  Demian." 
"I'm  afraid  he's  angry  with  me,  too;  I  carried 
off  one  of  his  kids." 

"Run  over  there,  then;  Trofim  lives  there." 
"Trofim!     I  should  be  afraid  of  even  meeting 
him.     Ever  since  the  spring  he  has  been  threat- 
ening me  about  a  lamb." 

"Dear  me,  that's  bad!  But  perhaps  Klim 
will  protect  you." 

"Oh,  Vaska,  I  have  killed  one  of  his  calves." 
"What  do  I  hear,  friend?  You've  quarrelled 
with  all  the  village,"  cried  Vaska  to  the  Wolf. 
"What  sort  of  protection  can  you  hope  for 
here?  No,  no;  our  moujiks  are  not  so  des- 
titute of  sense  as  to  be  willing  to  save  you  to 
their  own  hurt.  And,  really,  you  have  only 
yourself  to  blame.  What  you  have  sown, 
that  you  must  now  reap." 

The  Eagle  and  the  Mole 

AN  EAGLE  and  his  mate  flew  into  a  deep 
forest  and  determined  to  make  it  their  per- 
manent abode.  So  they  chose  an  oak,  lofty 
and  wide-spreading,  and  began  to  build  them- 
selves a  nest  on  the  top  of  it,  hoping  there  to 
rear  their  young  in  the  summer. 


234  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

A  Mole,  who  heard  about  all  this,  plucked 
up  courage  enough  to  inform  the  Eagles  that 
the  oak  was  not  a  proper  dwelling-place  for 
them;  that  it  was  almost  entirely  rotten  at  the 
root,  and  was  likely  soon  to  fall,  and  that 
therefore  the  Eagles  ought  not  to  make  their 
nest  upon  it. 

But  is  it  becoming  that  an  Eagle  should 
accept  advice  coming  from  a  Mole  in  a  hole? 
Where  then  would  be  the  glory  of  an  Eagle 
having  such  keen  eyes?  And  how  comes  it 
that  Moles  dare  to  meddle  in  the  affairs  of  the 
king  of  Birds? 

So,  saying  very  little  to  the  Mole,  whose 
counsel  he  despised,  the  Eagle  set  to  work 
quickly  —  and  the  King  soon  got  ready  the 
new  dwelling  for  the  Queen. 

All  goes  well,  and  no w^  the  Eagles  have  little 
ones.  But  what  happens?  One  day,  when  at 
early  dawn  the  Eagle  is  hastening  back  from 
the  chase,  bringing  a  rich  breakfast  to  his 
family,  as  he  drops  down  from  the  sky  he  sees  — 
his  oak  has  fallen,  and  has  crushed  beneath  it 
his  mate  and  his  little  ones! 

"Wretched  creature  that  I  am!"  he  cries, 
anguish  blotting  out  from  him  the  light;  "for 
my  pride  has  fate  so  terribly  punished  me, 
and  because  I  gave  no  heed  to  wise  counsel. 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF  235 

But  could  one  expect  that  wise  counsel  could 
possibly  come  from  a  miserable  Mole?" 

Then  from  its  hole  the  Mole  replies:  "Had 
not  you  despised  me,  you  would  have  remem- 
bered that  I  burrow  within  the  earth,  and  that,  as 
I  live  among  the  roots,  I  can  tell  with  cer- 
tainty whether  a  tree  be  sound  or  not." 

The 'Spider  and  the  Bee 

A  MERCHANT  brought  some  linen  to  a  fair. 
( That's  a  thing  everybody  wants  to  buy,  so  it 
would  have  been  a  sin  in  the  Merchant  if  he 
had  complained  of  his  sale.  There  was  no  keep- 
ing the  buyers  back:  the  shop  was  at  times 
crammed  full. 

Seeing  how  rapidly  the  goods  went  off,  an 
envious  Spider  was  tempted  by  the  Merchant's 
gains.  She  took  it  into  her  head  to  weave 
goods  for  sale  herself,  and  determined  to  open 
a  little  shop  for  them  in  a  window  corner,  seek- 
ing thereby  to  undermine  the  Merchant's  success. 

She  commenced  her  web,  spun  the  "whole 
night  long,  and  then  set  out  her  wares  on  view. 
From  her  shop  she  did  not  stir,  but  remained 
sitting  there,  puffed  up  with  pride,  and  thinking, 
"So  soon  as  the  day  shall  dawn  will  all  buyers 
be  enticed  to  me." 

Well,   the   day  did   dawn.     But  what  then? 


236  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

There  came  a  broom,  and  the  ingenious  creatures 
and  her  little  shop  were  swept  clean  away. 

Our  Spider  went  wild  with  vexation. 

" There!"  she  cried,  "what's  the  good  of 
expecting  a  just  reward?  And  yet  I  ask  the 
whole  world  —  Whose  work  is  the  finer,  mine 
or  that  Merchant's?" 

"Yours,  to  be  sure,"  answered  the  Bee. 
"Who  would  venture  to  deny  the  fact?  Every 
one  knew  that  long  ago.  But  what  is  the  good 
of  it  if  there's  neither  warmth  nor  wear  in  it?" 

The  Cuckoo  and  the  Cock 

"  How  proudly  and  sonorously  you  sing,  my 
dear  Cock!" 

"But  you,  dear  Cuckoo,  my  light,  how 
smoothly  flows  your  long  drawn-out  note! 
There  is  no  such  singer  in  all  the  rest  of  our 
forest." 

"To  you,  dear  friend,  I  could  listen  forever." 

"And  as  for  you,  my  beauty,  I  protest  that 
when  you  are  silent  I  scarcely  know  how  to 
wait  till  you  begin  again.  Where  do  you  get 
such  a  voice?  —  so  clear,  so  soft,  so  high! 
But  no  doubt  you  were  always  like  that:  not 
very  large  in  stature,  but  in  song  —  a  night- 
ingale." 

"Thanks,  friend.     As  for  you,  I  declare  on 


FABLES  FROM  KRILOF  237 

my  conscience  you  sing  better  than  the  birds 
in  the  Garden  of  Eden.  I  appeal  to  public 
opinion  for  a  proof  of  this." 

At  this  moment  a  Sparrow,  who  had  over- 
heard their  conversation,  said  to  them: 

"You  may  go  on  praising  each  other  till  you 
are  hoarse,  my  friends;  but  your  music  is  utterly 
worthless." 

Why  was  it,  that,  not  fearing  to  sin,  the 
Cuckoo  praised  the  Cock?  Simply  because 
the  Cock  praised  the  Cuckoo. 

The  Peasant  and  the  Robber 

A  PEASANT  who  was  beginning  to  stock  his 
little  farm  had  bought  a  cow  and  a  milk-pail 
at  the  fair,  and  was  going  quietly  home  by  a 
lonely  path  through  the  forest,  when  he  sud- 
denly fell  into  the  hands  of  a  Robber.  The 
Robber  stripped  him  as  bare  as  a  lime-tree. 

"Have  mercy!"  cried  the  Peasant.  "I  am 
utterly  ruined.  You  have  reduced  me  to 
beggary.  For  a  whole  year  I  have  worked  to 
buy  this  dear  little  cow.  I  could  hardly  bear 
to  wait  for  this  day  to  arrive." 

"Very  good,"  replied  the  Robber,  touched 
with  compassion;  "Don't  cry  out  so  against 
me.  After  all,  I  shall  not  want  to  milk  your 
cow;  so  I'll  give  you  back  your  milk-pail." 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE 

"Why  have  some  more  power  than  others? 
Only  one  knows.  Why  have  some  longer  life 
than  others?  Only  one  knows.  Why  do  some 
try  and  not  succeed;  while  others  do  not  try  and 
yet  they  do  succeed?  Only  one  knows" 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE 

The  Animals'  Peace  Party 

THE  ancient  books  say  that  the  pig  is 
a  very  unclean  animal  and  of  no  great 
use  to  the  world  or  man,  and  one  of 
them  contains  this  story: 

Once  upon  a  time  the  Horses  and  Cattle 
gave  a  party.  Although  the  Pigs  were  very 
greedy,  the  Horses  said:  "Let  us  invite  them, 
and  it  may  be  we  can  settle  our  quarrels  in 
this  way  and  become  better  friends.  We  will 
call  this  a  Peace  Party. 

"Generations  and  generations  of  pigs  have 
broken  through  our  fences,  taken  our  food, 
drunk  our  water,  and  rooted  up  our  clean  green 
grass;  but  it  is  also  true  that  the  cattle  children 
have  hurt  many  young  pigs. 

"All  this  trouble  and  fighting  is  not  right, 
and  we  know  the  Master  wishes  we  should 
live  at  peace  with  one  another.  Do  you  not 
think  it  a  good  plan  to  give  a  Peace  Party  and 
settle  this  trouble?" 

The  Cattle  said:     "Who  will  be  the  leader 

241 


242  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

of  our  party  and  do  the  inviting?  We  should 
have  a  leader,  both  gentle  and  kind,  to  go  to 
the  Pig's  home  and  invite  them." 

The  next  day  a  small  and  very  gentle  Cow 
was  sent  to  invite  the  Pigs.  As  she  went  across 
to  the  pigs'  yard,  all  the  young  ones  jumped 
up  and  grunted,  "What  are  you  coming  here 
for?  Do  you  want  to  fight?" 

"No,  I  do  not  want  to  fight,"  said  the  Cow. 
"I  was  sent  here  to  invite  you  to  our  party. 
I  should  like  to  know  if  you  will  come,  so  that 
I  may  tell  our  leader." 

The  young  Pigs  and  the  old  ones  talked 
together  and  the  old  ones  said:  "The  New 
Year  feast  will  soon  be  here.  Maybe  they  will 
have  some  good  things  for  us  to  eat  at  the 
party.  I  think  we  should  go." 

Then  the  old  Pigs  found  the  best  talker  in 
all  the  family,  and  sent  word  by  him  that  they 
would  attend  the  party. 

The  day  came,  and  the  Pigs  all  went  to  the 
party.  There  were  about  three  hundred  all 
together. 

When  they  arrived  they  saw  that  the  leader 
of  the  cows  was  the  most  beautiful  of  all  the 
herd  and  very  kind  and  gentle  to  her  guests. 

After  a  while  the  leader  spoke  to  them  in  a 
gentle  voice  and  said  to  the  oldest  Pigs:  "We 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE        243 

think  it  would  be  a  good  and  pleasant  thing  if 
there  were  no  more  quarrels  in  this  pasture. 

"Will  you  tell  your  people  not  to  break  down 
the  fences  and  spoil  the  place  and  eat  our  food? 
We  will  then  agree  that  the  oxen  and  horses 
shall  not  hurt  your  children  and  all  the  old 
troubles  shall  be  forgotten  from  this  day." 

Then  one  young  Pig  stood  up  to  talk.  "All 
this  big  pasture  belongs  to  the  Master,  and  not 
to  you,"  he  said.  "We  cannot  go  to  other 
places  for  food. 

"The  Master  sends  a  servant  to  feed  us,  and 
sometimes  he  sends  us  to  your  yard  to  eat  the 
corn  and  potatoes. 

"The  servants  clean  our  pen  every  day. 
When  summer  comes,  they  fill  the  ponds  with 
fresh  water  for  us  to  bathe  in. 

"Now,  friends,  can  you  not  see  that  this  place 
and  this  food  all  belong  to  the  Master?  We 
eat  the  food  and  go  wherever  we  like.  WTe  take 
your  food  only  after  you  have  finished.  It  would 
spoil  on  the  ground  if  we  did  not  do  this. 

"Answer  this  question  —  Do  our  people  ever 
hurt  your  people?  No;  even  though  every 
year  some  of  our  children  are  killed  by  bad 
oxen  and  cows. 

"What  is  our  food?  It  is  nothing;  but  our 
lives  are  worth  much  to  us. 


244  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"Our  Master  never  sends  our  people  to  work 
as  he  does  the  horses  and  oxen.  He  sends  us 
food  and  allows  us  to  play  a  year  and  a  year 
the  same,  because  he  likes  us  best. 

"You  see  the  Horses  and  Oxen  are  always 
at  work.  Some  pull  wagons,  others  plough 
land  for  rice;  and  they  must  work  —  sick  or 
well. 

"Our  people  never  work.  Every  day  at 
happy  time  we  play;  and  do  you  see  how  fat 
we  are? 

"You  never  see  our  bones.  Look  at  the 
old  Horses  and  the  old  Oxen.  Twenty  years' 
work  and  no  rest! 

*'I  tell  you  the  Master  does  not  honour  the 
Horses  and  Oxen  as  he  does  the  Pigs. 

"Friends,  that  is  all  I  have  to  say.  Have 
you  any  questions  to  ask?  Is  what  I  have 
said  not  the  truth?" 

The  old  Cow  said,  "Moo,  Moo,"  and  shook 
her  head  sadly.  The  tired  old  Horses  groaned, 
"Huh,  Huh,"  and  never  spoke  a  word. 

The  leader  said,  "My  friends,  it  is  best  not 
to  worry  about  things  we  cannot  know.  We 
do  not  seem  to  understand  our  Master. 

"It  will  soon  be  time  for  the  New  Year  feast 
day;  so,  good  night.  And  may  the  Pig  people 
live  in  the  world  as  long  and  happily  as  the 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE        245 

Horses  and  the  Oxen,  although  our  Peace  Party 
did  not  succeed." 

On  their  way  home  the  little  Pigs  made  a 
big  noise,  and  every  one  said,  "We,  we!  We 
win,  we  win!" 

Then  the  old  Horses  and  Oxen  talked  among 
themselves.  "We  are  stronger,  wiser,  and 
more  useful  than  the  Pigs,"  they  said.  "Why 
does  the  Master  treat  us  so?" 

EE-SzE  (Meaning)  :  Why  have  some  more  power  than  others? 
Only  one  knows.  Why  have  some  longer  life  than  others? 
Only  one  knows.  Why  do  some  try  and  not  succeed;  while 
others  do  not  try  and  yet  they  do  succeed?  Only  one  knows. 

The  Proud  Chicken 

A  WIDOW  named  Hong-Mo  lived  in  a  little 
house  near  the  market  place.  Every  year  she 
raised  many  hundreds  of  chickens,  which  she 
sold  to  support  herself  and  her  two  children. 

Each  day  the  Chickens  went  to  the  fields  near 
by  and  hunted  bugs,  rice,  and  green  things  to  eat. 

The  largest  one  was  called  the  King  of  the 
Chickens,  because  of  all  the  hundreds  in  the 
flock  he  was  the  strongest.  And  for  this 
reason  he  was  the  leader  of  them  all. 

He  led  the  flock  to  new  places  for  food.  He 
could  crow  the  loudest,  and  as  he  was  the 
strongest,  none  dared  oppose  him  in  any  way. 


246  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

One  day  he  said  to  the  flock,  "Let  us  go  to 
the  other  side  of  the  mountain  near  the  wilder- 
ness to-day,  and  hunt  rice,  wheat,  corn,  and 
wild  silkworms.  There  is  not  enough  food 
here." 

But  the  other  Chickens  said,  "We  are  afraid 
to  go  so  far.  There  are  foxes  and  eagles  in 
the  wilderness,  and  they  will  catch  us." 

The  King  of  the  Chickens  said,  "It  is  better 
that  all  the  old  hens  and  cowards  stay  at  home." 

The  King's  secretary  said,  "I  do  not  know 
fear.  I  will  go  with  you."  Then  they  started 
away  together. 

When  they  had  gone  a  little  distance,  the 
Secretary  found  a  beetle,  and  just  as  he  was 
going  to  swallow  it,  the  King  flew  at  him  in 
great  anger,  saying, "  Beetles  are  for  kings,  not  for 
common  chickens.  Why  did  you  not  give  it 
to  me?"  So  they  fought  together,  and  while 
they  were  fighting,  the  beetle  ran  away  and 
hid  under  the  grass  where  he  could  not  be 
found. 

And  the  Secretary  said,  "I  will  not  fight 
for  you,  neither  will  I  go  to  the  wilderness  with 
you."  And  he  went  home  again. 

At  sunset  the  King  came  home.  The  other 
Chickens  had  saved  the  best  roosting  place 
for  him;  but  he  was  angry  because  none  of 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE         247 

them  had  been  willing  to  go  to  the  wilderness 
with  him,  and  he  fought  first  with  one  and 
then  with  another. 

He  was  a  mighty  warrior,  and  therefore  none 
of  them  could  stand  up  against  him.  And  he 
pulled  the  feathers  out  of  many  of  the  flock. 

At   last   the   Chickens   said,    "We   will   not 

serve  this  king  any  longer.     We  will  leave  this 

place.     If  Hong-Mo   will  not  give  us  another 

home,  wre   will  stay  in  the  vegetable  garden. 

i  We  will  do  that  two  or  three  nights,  and  see  if 

!she  will  give  us  another  place  to  live." 

So  the  next  day,  when  Hong-Mo  waited  at 
sunset  for   the   Chickens   to   come   home,   the 
'King  was  the  only  one  who  came. 

And  she  asked  the  King,  "WTiere  are  all 
my  Chickens?" 

But  he  was  proud  and  angry,  and  said,  "They 
are  of  no  use  in  the  world.  I  would  not  care  if 
_they  always  stayed  away." 

Hong-Mo  answered,  "You  are  not  the  only 
Chicken  in  the  world.  I  want  the  others  to 
come  back.  If  you  drive  them  all  away,  you 
.will  surely  see  trouble." 

But  the  King  laughed  and  jumped  up  on 
the  fence  and  crowed,  "  Nga-Un-Gan-Yu-Na" 
(cock-a-doodle-doo-oo)  in  a  loud  voice.  "I 
don't  care  for  you!  I  don't  care  for  you!" 


248  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Hong-Mo  went  out  and  called  the  Chickens, 
and  she  hunted  long  through  the  twilight  until 
the  dark  night  came,  but  she  could  not  find 
them.  The  next  morning  early  she  went  to 
the  vegetable  garden,  and  there  she  found  her 
Chickens.  They  were  glad  to  see  her,  and 
bowed  their  heads  and  flew  to  her. 

Hong-Mo  said,  "What  are  you  doing?  Why 
do  you  children  stay  out  here,  when  I  have 
given  you  a  good  house  to  live  in?" 

The  Secretary  told  her  all  about  the  trouble 
with  the  King. 

Hong-Mo  said,  "Now  you  must  be  friendly 
to  each  other.  Come  with  me,  and  I  will  bring 
you  and  your  King  together.  We  must  have 
peace  here." 

When  the  Chickens  came  to  where  the  King 
was  he  walked  about,  and  scraped  his  wings 
on  the  ground,  and  sharpened  his  spurs.  His 
people  had  come  to  make  peace,  and  they  bowed 
their  heads  and  looked  happy  when  they  saw 
their  King.  But  he  still  walked  about  alone 
and  would  not  bow. 

He  said,  "I  am  a  King — always  a  King.  Do 
you  know  that?  You  bow  your  heads  and  think 
that  pleases  me.  But  what  do  I  care?  I  should 
not  care  if  there  was  never  another  Chicken  in 
the  vrorld  but  myself.  I  am  King." 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE        249 

And  he  hopped  up  on  a  tree  and  sang  some 
war  songs.  But  suddenly  an  eagle  who  heard 
him,  flew  down  and  caught  him.  in  his  talons 
and  carried  him  away.  And  the  Chickens 
never  saw  their  proud,  quarrelsome  Bang  again. 

EE-SZE  (Meaning):  No  position  in  life  is  so  high  that  it 
gives  tlie  right  to  be  proud  and  quarrelsome. 

The  Hen  and  the  Chinese  Mountain  Turtle 

FOUR  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  in  Lze- 
Cheung  Province,  Western  China,  there  lived 
an  old  farmer  named  Ah-Po. 

The  young  farmers  all  said  Ah-Po  knew 
everything.  If  they  wanted  to  know  when 
it  would  rain,  they  asked  Ah-Po,  and  when 
he  said:  "It  will  not  rain  to-morrow,"  or, 
"You  will  need  your  bamboo-hat  this  time  to- 
morrow," it  was  as  he  said.  He  knew  all  about 
the  things  of  nature  and  how  to  make  the 
earth  yield  best  her  fruits  and  seeds,  and  some 
said  he  was  a  prophet. 

One  day  Ah-Po  caught  a  fine  Mountain 
Turtle.  It  was  so  large  that  it  took  both  of 
Ah-Po's  sons  to  carry  it  home.  They  tied 
its  legs  together  and  hung  it  on  a  strong  stick, 
and  each  son  put  an  end  of  the  stick  on  his 
shoulder. 

Ah-Po  said,   "We  will  not  kill  the  Turtle. 


250  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

He  is  too  old  to  eat,  and  I  think  we  will  keep 
him  and  watch  the  rings  grow  around  his  legs 
each  year."  So  they  gave  him  a  corner  in 
the  barnyard  and  fed  him  rice  and  water. 

Ah-Po  had  many  Chickens,  and  for  three 
months  the  Turtle  and  Chickens  lived  in  peace 
with  each  other.  But  one  day  all  the  young 
Chickens  came  together  and  laughed  at  the 
Turtle.  Then  they  said  to  him,  "Why  do  you 
live  here  so  long?  Why  do  you  not  go  back  to 
your  own  place?  This  small  barnyard  corner 
is  not  so  good  as  your  cave  in  the  wilderness. 
You  have  only  a  little  sand  and  grass  to  live 
on  here.  The  servant  feeds  you,  but  she  never 
gives  you  any  wilderness  fruits.  You  are 
very  large,  and  you  take  up  too  much  room. 
We  need  all  the  room  there  is  here.  You  fool- 
ish old  thing,  do  you  think  our  fathers  and 
mothers  want  you?  No.  There  is  not  one 
of  our  people  who  likes  you.  Besides,  you  are 
not  clean.  You  make  too  much  dirt.  The 
servant  girl  gave  you  this  water  to  drink,  and 
your  water  bowl  is  even  now  upside  down. 
You  scatter  rice  on  our  floor.  Too  many  flies 
come  here  to  see  you,  and  we  do  not  like  flies." 

The  Turtle  waited  until  they  had  all  finished 
scolding.  Then  he  said,  "Do  you  think  I 
came  here  myself?  Who  put  me  here,  do  you 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE        251 

know?  Do  you  suppose  I  like  to  be  in  jail? 
You  need  not  be  jealous.  I  never  ate  any  rice 
that  belonged  to  you  or  your  family.  I  am 
not  living  in  your  house.  What  are  you  com- 
plaining about?  If  our  master  should  take 
your  whole  family  and  sell  it,  he  would  only 
get  one  piece  of  silver.  Who  and  what  are  you 
to  talk  so  much?  Wait  and  see;  some  day  I 
may  have  the  honoured  place." 

Some  of  the  Chickens  went  home  and  told  their 
mother,  "  We  had  an  argument  with  the  Turtle 
to-day  and  he  had  the  last  word.  To-morrow 
we  want  you  to  go  with  us  and  show  him  that 
a  Chicken  can  argue  as  well  as  a  Turtle." 

The  next  day  all  the  Chickens  of  the  barn- 
yard went  to  see  the  Turtle.  And  the  old 
Hen  said,  "My  children  came  here  to  play 
yesterday,  and  you  scolded  them  and  drove 
them  away.  You  said  all  my  family  was  not 
worth  one  piece  of  silver.  You  think  you  are 
worth  many  pieces  of  gold,  I  suppose.  No 
one  likes  you.  Your  own  master  w^ould  not 
eat  you.  And  the  market  people  would  never 
buy  a  thing  so  old  and  tough  as  you  are.  But 
I  suppose  you  will  have  to  stay  here  in  our  yard 
a  thousand  years  or  so,  until  you  die.  Then 
they  will  carry  you  to  the  wilderness  and 
throw  you  into  the  Nobody-Knows  Lake." 


252  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Then  the  Turtle  answered  and  said,  "I  am 
a  Mountain  Turtle.  I  come  from  a  wise 
family,  and  it  is  not  easy  for  even  man  to  catch 
me.  Educated  men,  doctors,  know  that  I 
am  useful  for  sickness,  but  if  all  the  people 
knew  the  many  ways  they  could  use  me,  I 
think  there  would  soon  be  no  more  turtles  in 
the  world.  Many  Chinese  know  that  my  skin 
is  good  for  skin  disease,  and  my  forefeet  are  good 
for  the  devil-sickness  in  children,  as  they  drive 
the  devil  away;  and  then  my  shells  are  good 
for  sore  throat,  and  my  stomach  is  good  for 
stomach-ache,  and  my  bones  are  good  for  tooth- 
ache. Do  you  remember  that  not  long  ago 
our  master  brought  three  turtle  eggs  to  feed 
your  children?  I  heard  him  say:  *  Those  little 
Chickens  caught  cold  in  that  damp  place, 
and  so  I  must  give  them  some  turtle  eggs.'  I 
saw  your  children  eat  those  three  eggs,  and  in 
two  or  three  days  they  were  well. 

"So  you  see  the  Turtle  is  a  useful  creature 
in  the  world,  even  to  Chickens.  Why  do  you 
not  leave  me  in  peace?  As  I  must  stay  here 
against  my  will,  it  is  not  right  that  your  children 
should  trouble  me.  Sometimes  they  take  all 
my  rice  and  I  go  hungry,  for  our  master  will  not 
allow  me  to  go  outside  of  this  fence  to  hunt  food 
for  myself.  I  never  come  to  your  house  and 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE        253 

bother  you,  but  your  children  will  not  even  let 
me  live  in  peace  in  the  little  corner  our  master 
gave  me.  If  I  had  a  few  of  my  own  people  here 
with  me,  as  you  have,  I  think  you  would  not 
trouble  me.  But  I  have  only  myself,  while 
you  are  many. 

"Yesterday  your  children  scolded  me  and 
disturbed  my  peace.  To-day  you  come  again; 
and  to-morrow  and  many  to-morrows  will  see 
generations  and  still  more  unhatched  genera- 
tions of  Chickens  coming  here  to  scold  me,  I 
fear;  for  the  length  of  life  of  a  cackling  hen 
is  as  a  day  to  me  —  a  Mountain  Turtle.  I 
know  the  heaven  is  large,  I  know  the  earth  is 
large  and  made  for  all  creatures  alike.  But 
you  think  the  heavens  and  the  earth  were  both 
made  for  you  and  your  Chickens  only.  If 
you  could  drive  me  away  to-day  you  would  try 
to-morrow  to  drive  the  dog  away,  and  in  time 
you  would  think  the  master  himself  ought  not 
to  have  enough  of  your  earth  and  air  to  live 
in.  This  barnyard  is  large  enough  for  birds, 
chickens,  ducks,  geese,  and  pigs.  It  makes 
our  master  happy  to  have  us  all  here." 

The  Chickens  went  away  ashamed.  Talk- 
ing to  each  other  about  it,  they  said:  "The 
Turtle  is  right.  It  is  foolish  to  want  every- 
thing. We  barnyard  creatures  must  live  at 


254  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

peace  with  each  other  until  we  die.  The 
barnyard  is  not  ours;  we  use  it  only  a  little 
while." 

EE-SzE  (Meaning):  The  Creator  made  the  world  for  all  to 
use,  and,  while  using  it,  the  strong  should  not  try  to  drive  out 
the  weak. 

The  Proud  Fox  and  the  Crab 

ONE  day  a  Fox  said  to  a  Crab:  " Crawling 
thing,  did  you  ever  run  in  all  your  life. 

"Yes,"  said  the  Crab,"  I  run  very  often  from 
the  mud  to  the  grass  and  back  to  the  river." 

"Oh,  shame!"  said  the  Fox,"  that  is  no 
distance  to  run.  How  many  feet  and  legs 
have  you?  I  have  only  four.  Why,  if  I  had 
as  many  feet  as  you  have,  I  would  run  at  least 
six  times  as  fast  as  you  do.  Did  you  know  that 
you  are  really  a  very  slow,  stupid  creature? 
Though  I  have  only  four  feet  I  run  ten  times  as 
far  as  you  do.  I  never  heard  of  any  one  with 
so  many  feet  as  you  have,  running  so  slowly." 

The  Crab  said:  "Would  you  like  to  run  a 
race  with  a  stupid  creature  like  me?  I  will 
try  to  run  as  fast  as  you.  I  know  I  am  small, 
so  suppose  we  go  to  the  scales  and  see  how  much 
heavier  you  are.  As  you  are  ten  times  larger 
than  I,  of  course  you  will  have  to  run  ten  times 
faster. 


"ONE   DAT   A   FOX   SAID   TO   A    CRAB:    'CRAWLING  THING,  DID   YOU 
EVER   RUN   IN   ALL   YOUR   LIFE?"' 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE        255 

"Another  reason  why  you  can  run  so  fast 
is  because  you  have  such  a  fine  tail  and  hold 
it  so  high.  If  you  would  allow  me  to  put  it 
down,  I  do  not  think  you  would  run  any  faster 
than  I." 

"Oh,  very  well,"  said  the  Fox,  contempt- 
uously, "do  as  you  like,  and  still  the  race  will 
be  so  easy  for  me  that  I  will  not  even  need  to  try. 
Your  many  legs  and  your  stupid  head  do  not 
go  very  well  together.  Now,  if  I  had  my  sense 
and  all  of  your  legs,  no  creature  in  the  forest 
could  outrun  me.  As  it  is,  there  are  none  that 
can  outwit  me.  I  am  known  as  the  sharp- 
witted.  Even  man  says,  'Qui-kwat-wui-lai' 
(sly  as  a  fox).  So  do  what  you  will,  stupid 
one." 

"If  you  will  let  me  tie  your  beautiful  tail 
down  so  it  will  stay,"  said  the  Crab,  "I  am 
sure  I  can  win  the  race." 

"Oh,  no,  you  cannot,"  said  the  Fox.  "But 
I  will  prove  to  even  your  stupid,  slow  brain 
that  it  will  make  no  difference.  Now,  how  do 
you  wish  that  I  should  hold  my  tail?" 

Said  the  Crab:  "If  you  will  allow  me  to 
hang  something  on  your  tail  to  hold  it  down, 
I  am  sure  you  cannot  run  faster  than  I." 

"Do  as  you  like,"  said  the  Fox. 

"Allow  me  to  come  nearer,"  said  the  Crab, 


256  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"and  when  I  have  it  fastened  to  your  tail,  I 
will  say  'Ready!'  Then  you  are  to  start." 

So  the  Crab  crawled  behind  and  caught 
the  Fox's  tail  with  his  pincers  and  said,  "  Ready !" 
The  Fox  ran  and  ran  until  he  was  tired.  And 
when  he  stopped,  there  was  the  Crab  beside 
him. 

"Where  are  you  now?"  said  the  Crab.  "I 
thought  you  were  to  run  ten  times  faster  than 
I.  You  are  not  even  ahead  of  me  with  ail  your 
boasting." 

The  Fox,  panting  for  breath,  hung  his  head 
in  shame  and  went  away  where  he  might 
never  see  the  crab  again. 

EE-SzE  (Meaning) :  A  big,  proud,  boastful  mouth  is  a  worse 
thing  for  a  man  than  it  is  for  a  fox. 

The  Mule  and  the  Lion 

ONE  night  the  Lion  was  very  hungry,  but 
as  the  creatures  of  the  wilderness  knew  and 
feared  him  even  from  afar,  he  could  not  find 
food.  So  he  went  to  visit  the  young  Mule 
that  lived  near  the  farmer's  house,  and  when 
he  saw  him  he  smiled  blandly  and  asked,  "What 
do  you  eat,  fair  Lii,  to  make  you  so  sleek  and 
lat?  What  makes  your  hair  so  smooth  and 
beautiful?  I  think  your  master  gives  you 
tender  fresh  grass  and  fat  young  pig  to  eat." 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE        257 

The  Mule  answered,  "No,  I  am  fat  because 
I  am  gentle.  My  hair  is  beautiful  because  I 
do  not  fight  with  other  creatures.  But  why 
do  you  come  here,  Sii?  Are  you  hungry?  I 
believe  you  are  seeking  for  food." 

The  Lion  said,  "Oh,  no,  I  am  not  hungry. 
I  only  walk  around  to  get  the  cool,  fresh  air. 
And  then  the  night  is  very  beautiful.  The 
moon  hangs  up  in  the  clear  sky  with  the  stars 
and  makes  a  soft  light,  and  so  I  came  to  visit 
you.  Would  you  not  like  to  take  a  walk  with 
me?  I  will  take  you  to  visit  my  friend,  the  Pig. 
I  never  go  to  his  house  alone;  I  always  take  a 
friend  with  me." 

The  Mule  asked,  "Shall  we  go  to  any  other 
place?" 

"Yes,"  answered  the  Lion,  "I  think  we  will 
go  to  visit  another  friend  of  mine  who  lives 
not  far  away." 

Then  the  Mule  asked  his  mother,  "Will  you 
allow  me  to  go  with  Sii  to  see  his  friend?" 

"Who  is  his  friend?"  asked  the  mother. 

"The  farmer's  Pig,"  said  the  Mule. 

"I  think  it  is  no  harm  if  you  go  only  there," 
said  the  mother  Mule.  "But  you  must  not  go 
anywhere  else  with  Sii.  The  hunter  is  looking 
for  him,  I  hear,  and  you  must  be  careful.  Do 
not  trust  him  fully,  for  I  fear  he  will  tempt  you 


258  THE  TALKING  B1EASTS 

to  go  to  some  other  place  or  into  some  wrong 
thing.  If  I  allow  you  to  go,  you  must  come 
home  before  midnight.  The  moon  will  not  be 
gone  then  and  you  can  see  to  find  your  way." 

So  the  Lion  and  the  Mule  went  to  visit  the 
Pig,  who  lived  in  a  house  in  the  farmer's  yard. 
But  as  soon  as  the  Pig  saw  the  Lion,  he  called 
out  in  a  loud  voice  to  his  mother. 

The  Lion  said,  "He  is  afraid  of  me.  I  will 
hide  and  you  may  go  in  first." 

When  the  Pig  saw  that  the  Mule  was  alone, 
he  thought  the  Lion  had  gone.  He  opened  his 
door  wide  and  was  very  friendly  to  the  Mule, 
saying,  "  Come  in." 

But  the  Lion  jumped  from  his  hiding  place 
and  caught  the  Pig  as  he  came  to  the  door. 
The  Pig  called  to  his  mother  in  great  fear,  and 
the  Mule  begged  the  Lion,  saying,  "Let  the 
poor  little  creature  go  free." 

But  the  Lion  said,  "No,  indeed;  I  have  many 
Pigs  at  my  house.  It  is  better  for  him  to  go 
with  me." 

Then  the  Lion  carried  the  Pig,  while  the  Mule 
followed.  Soon  they  came  to  where  a  fine 
looking  dog  lay  on  some  hay  behind  a  net. 
The  Lion  did  not  seem  to  see  the  net,  for  he 
dropped  the  Pig  and  tried  to  catch  the  Dog, 
who  cried  loudly  for  mercy. 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE        259 

But  the  Lion  said  to  the  foolish  Mule,  "See 
how  rude  the  Dog  is  to  us.  We  came  to  visit 
him  and  he  makes  a  loud  noise  and  tries  to 
call  the  hunter  so  that  he  will  drive  us  away. 
I  have  never  been  so  insulted.  Come  here, 
Lii-Tsze,  at  once  and  help  me!" 

The  Mule  went  to  the  Lion  and  the  net  fell 
and  caught  them  both.  At  sunrise  the  Hunter 
came  and  found  the  Mule  and  the  Lion  in  his 
net.  The  Mule  begged  earnestly  and  said, 
"Hunter,  you  know  me  and  you  know  my 
mother.  We  are  your  friends  and  we  do  no 
wrong.  Set  me  free,  oh,  hunter,  set  me  free!" 

The  Hunter  said,  "No,  I  will  not  set  you  free. 
You  may  be  good,  but  you  are  in  bad  company 
and  must  take  what  it  brings.  I  will  take 
you  and  the  Lion  both  to  the  market  place  and 
sell  you  for  silver.  That  is  my  right.  I  am 
a  hunter.  If  you  get  in  my  net,  that  is  your 
business.  If  I  catch  you,  that  is  my  business. 


(Meaning):  Bad  company  is  a  dangerous  thing  for 
man  or  beast. 

The  Lion  and  the  Mosquitoes 

ONE  day  Ah-Fou's  father  said  to  him,  "Come 
here,  my  boy,  and  I  will  tell  you  a  story.  Do 
you  remember  the  great  lion  we  saw  one  day, 
which  Ah-Kay  caught?  You  know  a  strong 


260  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

rope  held  him,  and  he  roared  and  tried  to  free 
himself  until  he  died.  Then  when  Ah-Kay 
took  him  from  the  net,  he  looked  at  the  rope 
and  the  bamboo  carefully,  and  found  five  of 
the  great  ropes  broken. 

"How  strong  is  the  lion?  Twenty  children 
like  you  could  not  break  one  strand  of  that 
great  rope.  But  the  lion  broke  five  complete 
ropes.  He  is  the  strongest  of  all  animals.  He 
catches  many  creatures  for  his  food,  but  once 
he  lost  a  battle  with  one  of  the  least  of  the 
wilderness  creatures.  Do  you  know  what  it 
was?" 

"A  bird  could  fight  and  then  fly  away. 
Was  it  a  bird?" 

"No,  my  son." 

"A  man  is  stronger  than  a  lion." 

"No;  do  you  not  remember  the  woodcutter 
who  could  put  down  five  strong  men?  One 
night  a  wilderness  lion  caught  and  killed 
him." 

"Then  what  was  the  smallest  of  all  creatures 
of  the  wilderness  that  battled  with  a  lion?" 

The  father  said,  "I  will  tell  you  the  story: 
Once  in  the  summer  time  the  Lion  was  very 
\hirsty.  But  the  sun  had  taken  all  the  water 
near  the  Lion's  home  and  he  went  to  many 
places  seeking  for  it.  In  time  he  found  an  old 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE        261 

well,  but  the  water  was  not  fresh.  As  the 
Lion  was  very  thirsty,  he  said,  'I  must  drink, 
even  though  the  water  is  stale.' 

"But  when  he  reached  down  into  the  old 
well,  he  found  that  it  was  the  home  of  all  the 
Mosquitoes  of  the  wilderness. 

"The  Mosquitoes  said  to  the  Lion,  'Go  away, 
we  do  not  want  you.  This  is  our  home  and 
we  are  happy.  We  do  not  wish  the  lion,  the  fox, 
or  the  bear  to  come  here.  You  are  not  our 
friend.  Why  do  you  come?" 

"The  Lion  roared  and  said,  'Weak  and  fool- 
ish things!  I  am  the  Lion.  It  is  you  that 
should  go  away,  for  I  have  come  to  drink. 
This  is  my  wilderness,  and  I  am  king.  Do 
you  know,  weak  things,  that  when  I  come  out 
from  my  place  and  send  forth  my  voice,  all 
the  creatures  of  the  wilderness  shake  like  leaves 
and  bow  their  heads  to  me?  WThat  are  you 
that  you  should  have  a  place  you  call  your 
home  and  tell  me  that  I  may  or  I  may  not?' 

"Then  the  Mosquitoes  answered,  'You  are 
only  one.  You  speak  as  if  you  were  many. 
Our  people  had  this  old  well  for  a  home  before 
your  roar  was  heard  in  the  wilderness.  And 
many  generations  of  us  have  been  born  here. 
This  home  is  ours,  and  we  are  they  that  say 
who  shall  come  or  go.  And  yet  you  come  and 


262  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

tell  us  to  go  out  of  our  own  door.  If  you  do 
not  leave  us,  we  will  call  our  people,  and  you 
shall  know  trouble.' 

"But  the  Lion  held  his  head  high  with  pride 
and  anger  and  said,  'What  are  you,  oh,  small 
of  the  small?  I  will  kill  every  one  of  your 
useless  people.  When  I  drink,  I  will  open  my 
mouth  only  a  little  wider,  and  you  shall  be 
swallowed  like  the  water.  And  to-morrow 
I  shall  forget  that  I  drank  to-day.' 

"'Boastful  one,'  said  the  Mosquitoes,  'we 
do  not  believe  that  you  have  the  power  to 
destroy  all  our  people.  If  you  wish  battle,  we 
shall  see.  We  know  your  name  is  great  and 
that  all  animals  bow  their  heads  before  you; 
but  our  people  can  kill  you.' 

"The  Lion  jumped  high  in  his  rage  and  said, 
'No  other  creature  in  the  wilderness  has  dared 
to  say  these  things  to  me  —  the  king.  Have 
I  come  to  the  vile  well  of  the  silly  Mosquitoes 
for  wisdom?'  And  he  held  his  head  high,  and 
gave  the  mighty  roar  of  battle,  and  made 
ready  to  kill  all  the  Mosquitoes. 

"Then  the  Mosquitoes,  big  and  little,  flew 
around  him.  Many  went  into  his  ears,  and  the 
smallest  ones  went  into  his  nose,  and  the  big 
old  ones  went  into  his  mouth  to  sting.  A 
thousand  and  a  thousand  hung  in  the  air  just 


FABLES  FROM  THE  CHINESE        263 

over  his  head  and  made  a  great  noise,  and  the 
Lion  soon  knew  that  he  could  not  conquer. 

"He  roared  and  jumped,  and  two  of  his  front 
feet  went  down  into  the  well.  The  well  was 
narrow  and  deep  and  he  could  not  get  out,  for 
his  two  hind  feet  were  in  the  air  and  his  head 
hung  downward.  And  as  he  died,  he  said  to 
himself : 

"'My  pride  and  anger  have  brought  me  this 
fate.  Had  I  used  gentle  words,  the  Mosquitoes 
might  have  given  me  water  for  my  thirst. 
I  was  wise  and  strong  in  the  wilderness,  and 
even  the  greatest  of  the  animals  feared  my  power. 
But  I  fought  with  the  Mosquitoes  and  I  die  — 
not  because  I  have  not  strength  to  overcome,  but 
because  of  the  foolishness  of  anger." 

EE-SZE  (Meaning) :  The  wise  can  conquer  the  foolish.  Power 
is  nothing,  strength  is  nothing.  The  wise,  gentle  and  care- 
ful can  always  win. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE* 

"Of  Fables  judge  not  by  their  face; 
They  give  the  simplest  brute  a  teacher's  place. 
Bare  precepts  were  inert  and  tedious  things; 
The  story  gives  them  life  and  wings." 

JEAN  DE  LA  FONTAINE 


Translated  by  Elizur  Wright,  Jr. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE 

The  Grasshopper  and  the  Ant 

A  GRASSHOPPER  gay 
Sang  the  summer  away, 
And    found    herself    poor 
By  the  winter's  first  roar. 
Of  meat  or  of  bread, 
Not  a  morsel  she  had! 
So  a-begging  she  went, 
To  her  neighbour  the  Ant, 

For  the  loan  of  some  wheat, 

Which  would  serve  her  to  eat, 
Till  the  season  came  round. 

"I  will  pay  you,"  she  saith, 

"On  an  animal's  faith, 
Double  weight  in  the  pound 
Ere  the  harvest  be  bound. " 

The  Ant  is  a  friend  — 

(And  here  she  might  mend) 

Little  given  to  lend. 
"How  spent  you  the  summer?" 

Quoth  she,  looking  shame 

At  the  borrowing  dame. 

267 


268  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"Night  and  day  to  each  comer 
I  sang,  if  you  please. " 
"You  sang!         I'm  at  ease, 
For  'tis  plain  at  a  glance, 
Now,  ma'am,  you  must  dance. " 


The  Swan  and  the  Cook 

THE  pleasures  of  a  poultry  yard 
Were  by  a  Swan  and  Gosling  shared. 
The  Swan  was  kept  there  for  his  looks, 
The  thrifty  Gosling  for  the  Cooks; 
The  first  the  garden's  pride,  the  latter 
A  greater  favourite  on  the  platter. 
They  swam  the  ditches,  side  by  side, 
And  oft  in  sports  aquatic  vied, 
Plunging,  splashing  far  and  wide, 
With  rivalry  ne'er  satisfied. 

One  day  the  Cook,  named  Thirsty  John, 

Sent  for  the  Gosling,  took  the  Swan, 
In  haste  his  throat  to  cut, 
And  put  him  in  the  pot. 

The  bird's  complaint  resounded 
In  glorious  melody; 

Whereat  the  Cook,  astounded 

His  sad  mistake  to  see, 
Cried,  "What!  make  soup  of  a  musician! 
Please  God,  I'll  never  set  such  dish  on. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  269 

No,  no;  I'll  never  cut  a  throat 
That  sings  so  passing  sweet  a  note. " 

'Tis  thus,  whatever  peril  may  alarm  us, 
Sweet  words  will  surely  never  harm  us. 


The  Hornets  and  the  Bees 

"THE  artist  by  his  work  is  known." 
A  piece  of  honey-comb,  one  day, 
Discover'd  as  a  waif  and  stray, 
The  Hornets  treated  as  their  own. 
Their  title  did  the  Bees  dispute, 
And  brought  before  a  Wasp  the  suit. 
The  judge  was  puzzled  to  decide, 
For  nothing  could  be  testified 
Save  that  around  this  honey-comb 
There  had  been  seen,  as  if  at  home, 
Some  longish,  brownish,  buzzing  creatures, 
Much  like  the  Bees  in  wings  and  features. 
But  what  of  that?  for  marks  the  same, 
The  Hornets,  too,  could  truly  claim. 
Between  assertion  and  denial, 
The  Wasp,  in  doubt,  proclaim'd  new  trial; 
And,  hearing  what  an  ant-hill  swore, 
Could  see  no  clearer  than  before. 
"What  use,  I  pray,  of  this  expense?" 
At  last  exclaim'd  a  Bee  of  sense. 


270          THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"We've  labour'd  months  in  this  affair, 
And  now  are  only  where  we  were. 
Meanwhile  the  honey  runs  to  waste: 
'Tis  time  the  judge  should  show  some  haste. 
Both  sides  have  had  sufficient  bleeding, 
Without  more  fuss  of  scrawls  and  pleading. 
Let's  set  to  work,  these  drones  and  we, 
And  then  all  eyes  the  truth  may  see, 
Whose  art  it  is  that  can  produce 
The  magic  cells,  the  nectar  juice. " 

The  Hornets,  flinching  on  their  part, 
Show  that  the  work  transcends  their  art. 
The  Wasp  at  length  their  title  sees, 
And  gives  the  honey  to  the  Bees. 

Oh,  would  that  suits  at  law  with  us 
Might  every  one  be  managed  thus! 

The  Two  Rats,  the  Fox,  and  the  Egg 

Two  Rats  in  foraging  fell  on  an  Egg  — 
For  gentry  such  as  they 
A  genteel  dinner  every  way; 
They  needed  not  to  find  an  ox's  leg. 
Brimful  of  joy  and  appetite, 

They  were  about  to  sack  the  box, 

So  tight  without  the  aid  of  locks, 

When  suddenly  there  came  in  sight 

A  personage  —  Sir  Slyboots  Fox. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  271 

Sure,  luck  was  never  more  untoward 
Since  Fortune  was  a  vixen  froward! 
How  should  they  save  their  Egg  —  and  bacon? 

Their  plunder  couldn't  then  be  bagg'd  • 
Should  it  in  forward  paws  be  taken, 
Or  rolPd  along,  or  dragg'd? 
Each  method  seem'd  impossible, 
And  each  was  then  of  danger  full. 
Necessity,  ingenious  mother, 
Brought  forth   what  help'd   them   from   their 

pother. 

As  still  there  was  a  chance  to  save  their  prey, 
The  sponger  yet  some  hundred  yards  away  — 
One  seized  the  Egg,  and  turn'd  upon  his  back, 
And  then,  in  spite  of  many  a  thump  and  thwack, 
That  would  have  torn,  perhaps,  a  coat  of  mail, 
The  other  dragg'd  him  by  the  tail. 

Who  dares  the  inference  to  blink, 

That  beasts  possess  wherewith  to  think? 

Were  I  commissioned  to  bestow 
This  power  on  creatures  here  below, 
The  beasts  should  have  as  much  of  mind 
As  infants  of  the  human  kind. 

The  Lion's  Share 

THE  Heifer,  the  Goat,  and  their  sister  the  Sheep,1 
Compacted  their  earnings  in  common  to  keep,    } 


272  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

'Tis  said,  in  time  past,  with  a  Lion,  who  sway'd 
Full  lordship  o'er  neighbours,  of  whatever  grade. 
The  Goat,  as  it  happen'd,  a  Stag  having  snared, 
Sent  off  to  the  rest,  that  the  beast  might  be 

shared. 

All  gather'd;  the  Lion  first  counts  on  his  claws, 
And  says/' We'll  proceed  to  divide  with  our  paws 
The  stag  into  pieces,  as  fix'd  by  our  laws. " 
This  done,  he  announces  part  first  as  his  own; 
"'Tis  mine,"  he  says,  "truly,  as  Lion  alone." 
To  such  a  decision  there's  nought  to  be  said, 
As  he  who  has  made  it  is  doubtless  the  head. 
"Well,  also,  the  second  to  me  should  belong; 
'Tis  mine,  be  it  known,  by  the  right  of  the  strong. 
Again,  as  the  bravest,  the  third  must  be  mine. 
To  touch  but  the  fourth  whoso  maketh  a  sign, 
I'll  choke  him  to  death 
In  the  space  of  a  breath!" 

The  Shepherd  and  His  Dog 

A  SHEPHERD,  with  a  single  Dog, 

Was  ask'd  the  reason  why 

He  kept  a  Dog,  whose  least  supply 

Amounted  to  a  loaf  of  bread 

For  every  day.     The  people  said 

He'd  better  give  the  animal 

To  guard  the  village  seignior's  hall; 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  273 

For  him,  a  Shepherd,  it  would  be 
A  thriftier  economy 
To  keep  small  curs,  say  two  or  three, 
That  would  not  cost  him  half  the  food, 
And  yet  for  watching  be  as  good. 
The  fools,  perhaps,  forgot  to  tell 
If  they  would  fight  the  wolf  as  well. 
The  silly  Shepherd,  giving  heed, 
Cast  off  his  Dog  of  mastiff  breed, 
And  took  three  dogs  to  watch  his  cattle, 
Which  ate  far  less,  but  fled  in  battle. 

Not  vain  our  tale,  if  it  convinces 
Small  states  that  'tis  a  wiser  thing 
To  trust  a  single  powerful  king, 

Than  half  a  dozen  petty  princes. 

The  Old  Man  and  the  Ass 

AN  OLD  Man,  riding  on  his  Ass, 
Had  found  a  spot  of  thrifty  grass, 
And  there  turn'd  loose  his  weary  beast. 
Old  Grizzle,  pleased  with  such  a  feast, 
Flung  up  his  heels,  and  caper 'd  round, 
Then  roll'd  and  rubb'd  upon  the  ground, 
And  frisk'd  and  browsed  and  bray'd, 
And  many  a  clean  spot  made. 
Arm'd  men  came  on  them  as  he  fed: 
"Let's  fly!"  in  haste  the  Old  Man  said. 


274  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"And  wherefore  so?"  the  Ass  replied; 

"With  heavier  burdens  will  they  ride?" 
"No,"  said  the  man,  already  started, 
"Then,"  cried  the  Ass,  as  he  departed. 
"I'll  stay,  and  be  —  no  matter  whose; 
Save  you  yourself,  and  leave  me  loose, 
But  let  me  tell  you,  ere  you  go 
(I  speak  plain  English,  as  you  know), 
My  master  is  my  only  foe." 


The  Lion  Going  to  War 

THE  Lion  had  an  enterprise  in  hand; 

Held  a  war-council,  sent  his  provost-marshal, 

And  gave  the  animals  a  call  impartial  — 
Each,  in  his  way,  to  serve  his  high  command. 
The  Elephant  should  carry  on  his  back 
The  tools  of  war,  the  mighty  public  pack, 
And  fight  in  elephantine  way  and  form; 
The    Bear    should    hold    himself    prepared    to 

storm; 

The  Fox  all  secret  stratagems  should  fix; 
The  Monkey  should  amuse  the  foe  by  tricks. 
"Dismiss,"  said  one,  "the  blockhead  Asses, 

And  Hares,  too  cowardly  and  fleet." 
"No,"  said  the  King;  "I  use  all  classes; 

Without  their  aid  my  force  were  incomplete. 
The  Ass  shall  be  our  trumpeter,  to  scare 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  275 

Our  enemy.     And  then  the  nimble  Hare 
Our  royal  bulletins  shall  homeward  bear.' 

A  monarch  provident  and  wise 
Will  hold  his  subjects  all  of  consequence, 

And  know  in  each  what  talent  lies. 
There's  nothing  useless  to  a  man  of  sense. 


The  Ass  and  the  Lap-dog 

ONE'S  native  talent  from  its  course 
Cannot  be  turned  aside  by  force; 
But  poorly  apes  the  country  clown 
The  polish'd  manners  of  the  town. 
Their  Maker  chooses  but  a  few 
With  power  of  pleasing  to  imbue; 
Where  wisely  leave  it  we,  the  mass, 
Unlike  a  certain  fabled  Ass, 
That  thought  to  gain  his  master's  blessing 
By  jumping  on  him  and  caressing. 

"What!"  said  the  Donkey  in  his  heart; 
"Ought  it  to  be  that  Puppy's  part 
To  lead  his  useless  life 
In  full  companionship 
With  master  and  his  wife, 

While  I  must  bear  the  whip? 
What  doth  the  Cur  a  kiss  to  draw 
Forsooth,  he  only  gives  his  paw! 


276  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

If  that  is  all  there  needs  to  please, 
I'll  do  the  thing  myself,  with  ease." 

Possess' d  with  this  bright  notion  — 
His  master  sitting  on  his  chair, 
At  leisure  in  the  open  air  — 

He  ambled  up,  with  awkward  motion, 
And  put  his  talents  to  the  proof; 
Upraised  his  bruised  and  batter'd  hoof, 
And,  with  an  amiable  mien, 
His  master  patted  on  the  chin, 
The  action  gracing  with  a  word  — 
The  fondest  bray  that  e'er  was  heard! 
Oh,  such  caressing  was  there  ever? 
Or  melody  with  such  a  quaver? 
"Ho!  Martin!  here!  a  club,  a  club  bring!" 

Out  cried  the  master,  sore  offended. 
So  Martin  gave  the  Ass  a  drubbing  — 

And  so  the  comedy  was  ended. 


The  Hare  and  the  Partridge 

A  FIELD  in  common  share 
A  Partridge  and  a  Hare, 
And  live  in  peaceful  state, 
Till,  woeful  to  relate! 
The  hunter's  mingled  cry 
Compels  the  Hare  to  fly. 
He  hurries  to  his  fort, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  277 

And  spoils  almost  the  sport 
By  faulting  every  hound 
That  yelps  upon  the  ground. 
At  last  his  reeking  heat 
Betrays  his  snug  retreat. 
Old  Tray,  with  philosophic  nose, 
Snuffs  carefully,  and  grows 
So  certain,  that  he  cries, 
"The  Hare  is  here;  bow  wow!" 
And  veteran  Ranger  now  — 
The  dog  that  never  lies  — 
"The  Hare  is  gone,"  replies. 
Alas!  poor,  wretched  Hare, 
Back  conies  he  to  his  lair, 
To  meet  destruction  there! 
The  Partridge,  void  of  fear, 
Begins  her  friend  to  jeer:  — 
"You  bragg'd  of  being  fleet; 
How  serve  you,  now,  your  feet?" 
Scarce  has  she  ceased  to  speak  — 
The  laugh  yet  in  her  beak  — 
When,  comes  her  turn  to  die, 
From  vrhich  she  could  not  fly. 
She  thought  her  wings,  indeed, 
Enough  for  every  need; 
But  in  her  laugh  and  talk, 
Forgot  the  cruel  hawk! 


278  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Weasel  in  the  Granary 

A  WEASEL  through  a  hole  contrived  to  squeeze, 

(She  was  recovering  from  disease), 

Which  led  her  to  a  farmer's  hoard. 
There  lodged,  her  wasted  form  she  cherish'd; 
Heaven  knows  the  lard  and  victuals  stored 

That  by  her  gnawing  perish'd! 

Of  which  the  consequence 

Was  sudden  corpulence. 

A  week  or  so  was  past, 
When  having  fully  broken  fast, 

A  noise  she  heard,  and  hurried 
To  find  the  hole  by  which  she  came, 
And  seem'd  to  find  it  not  the  same; 

So  round  she  ran,  most  sadly  flurried; 
And,  coming  back,  thrust  out  her  head, 
Which,  sticking  there,  she  said, 
"This  is  the  hole,  there  can't  be  blunder: 
What  makes  it  now  so  small,  I  wonder, 
Where,  but  the  other  day,  I  pass'd  with  ease?" 

A  Rat  her  trouble  sees, 
And  cries,  "But  with  an  emptier  belly; 
You  enter'd  lean,  and  lean  must  sally." 


'  FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  279 

The  Wolf  Turned  Shepherd 

A  WOLF,  whose  gettings  from  the  flocks 

Began  to  be  but  few, 
Bethought  himself  to  play  the  fox 

In  character  quite  new. 
A  Shepherd's  hat  and  coat  he  took, 
A  cudgel  for  a  crook, 
Nor  e'en  the  pipe  forgot: 
And  more  to  seem  what  he  was  not, 
Himself  upon  his  hat  he  wrote, 
"I'm  Willie,  shepherd  of  these  sheep." 
His  person  thus  complete, 
His  crook  in  upraised  feet, 
The  impostor  Willie  stole  upon  the  keep. 
The  proper  Willie,  on  the  grass  asleep, 

Slept  there,  indeed,  profoundly, 
His  dog  and  pipe  slept,  also  soundly; 
His  drowsy  sheep  around  lay. 
As  for  the  greatest  number, 
Much  bless'd  the  hypocrite  their  slumber 
And  hoped  to  drive  away  the  flock, 
Could  he  the  Shepherd's  voice  but  mock. 

He  thought  undoubtedly  he  could. 
He  tried:  the  tone  in  which  he  spoke, 
Loud  echoing  from  the   wood, 
The  plot  and  slumber  broke; 
Sheep,  dog,  and  man  awoke. 


280  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Wolf,  in  sorry  plight, 
In  hampering  coat  bedight, 
Could  neither  run  nor  fight. 

There's  always  leakage  of  deceit 
Which  makes  it  never  safe  to  cheat. 
Whoever  is  a  Wolf  had  better 
Keep  clear  of  hypocritic  fetter. 


The  Lion  and  the  Ass  Hunting 

THE  King  of  animals,  with  royal  grace, 
Would  celebrate  his  birthday  in  the  chase. 
'Twas  not  with  bow  and  arrows, 
To  slay  some  wretched  sparrows; 
The  Lion  hunts  the  wild  boar  of  the  wood, 
The  antlered  deer  and  stags,  the  fat  and  good. 
This  time,  the  King,  t'  insure  success, 
Took  for  his  aide-de-camp  an  Ass, 
A  creature  of  stentorian  voice, 
That  felt  much  honour'd  by  the  choice. 
The  Lion  hid  him  in  a  proper  station, 
And  order 'd  h'm  to  bray,  for  his  vocation, 
Assured  that  his  tempestuous  cry 
The  boldest  beasts  would  terrify, 
And  cause  them  from  their  lairs  to  fly. 
And,  sooth,  the  horrid  noise  the  creature  made 
Did  strike  the  tenants  of  the  wood  with  dread; 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  281 

And,  as  they  headlong  fled, 
All  fell  within  the  Lion's  ambuscade. 

"Has  not  my  service  glorious 

Made  both  of  us  victorious?" 

Cried  out  the  much-elated  Ass. 
"Yes,"  said  the  Lion;  "bravely  bray'd! 

Had  I  not  known  yourself  and  race, 
I  should  have  been  myself  afraid!" 

The  Donkey,  had  he  dared, 

With  anger  would  have  flared 
At  this  retort,  though  justly  made; 

For  who  could  suffer  boasts  to  pass 

So  ill-befitting  to  an  Ass? 

The  Oak  and  the  Reed 

THE  Oak  one  day  address'd  the  Reed: 

"To  you  ungenerous  indeed 

Has  nature  been,  my  humble  friend, 

With  weakness  aye  obliged  to  bend. 

The  smallest  bird  that  flits  in  air 

Is  quite  too  much  for  you  to  bear; 

The  slightest  wind  that  wreathes  the  lake 

Your  ever-trembling  head  doth  shake. 

The  while,  my  towering  form 

Dares  with  the  mountain  top 

The  solar  blaze  to  stop, 
And  wrestle  with  the  storm. 
What  seems  to  you  the  blast  of  death, 


282  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

To  me  is  but  a  zephyr's  breath. 
Beneath  my  branches  had  you  grown, 
Less  suffering  would  your  life  have  known, 

Unhappily  you  oftenest  show 
In  open  air  your  slender  form, 

Along  the  marshes  wet  and  low, 

That  fringe  the  kingdom  of  the  storm. 

To  you,  declare  I  must, 

Dame  Nature  seems  unjust. " 
Then  modestly  replied  the  Reed: 
"Your  pity,  sir,  is  kind  indeed, 
But  wholly  needless  for  my  sake. 
The  wildest  wind  that  ever  blew 
Is  safe  to  me  compared  with  you. 
I  bend,  indeed,  but  never  break. 
Thus  far,  I  own,  the  hurricane 
Has  beat  your  sturdy  back  in  vain; 
But  wait  the  end. "     Just  at  the  word, 
The  tempest's  hollow  voice  was  heard. 
The  North  sent  forth  her  fiercest  child, 
Dark,  jagged,  pitiless,  and  wild. 
The  Oak,  erect,  endured  the  blow; 
The  Reed  bow'd  gracefully  and  low. 
But,  gathering  up  its  strength  once  more, 
In  greater  fury  than  before, 
The  savage  blast  o'erthrew,  at  last, 
That  proud,  old,  sky-encircled  head, 
Whose  feet  entwined  the  empire  of  the  dead! 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  283 

The  Eat  and  tlie  Two  Weasels 

A  BLUNDERING  Bat  once  stuck  her  head 
Into  a  wakeful  Weasel's  bed; 
Whereat  the  mistress  of  the  house, 

A  deadly  foe  of  rats  and  mice, 

Was  making  ready  in  a  trice 
To  eat  the  stranger  as  a  mouse. 
"What!  do  you  dare,"  she  said,  "to  creep  in 
The  very  bed  I  sometimes  sleep  in, 
Now,  after  all  the  provocation 
I've  suffered  from  your  thievish  nation? 
It's  plain  to  see  you  are  a  mouse, 
That  gnawing  pest  of  every  house, 
Your  special  aim  to  do  the  cheese  ill. 
Ay,  that  you  are,  or  I'm  no  Weasel." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,"  said  the  Bat; 

"My  kind  is  very  far  from  that. 
WTiat!  I  a  mouse!    Who  told  you  such  a  lie? 

Why,  ma'am,  I  am  a  bird; 

And,  if  you  doubt  my  word, 
Just  see  the  wings  with  which  I  fly. 
Long  live  the  mice  that  cleave  the  sky!" 

These  reasons  had  so  fair  a  show, 

The  Weasel  let  the  creature  go. 

By  some  strange  fancy  led, 
The  same  wise  blunderhead, 


284  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

But  two  or  three  days  later, 

Had  chosen  for  her  rest 

Another  Weasel's  nest, 
This  last,  of  birds  a  special  hater. 
New  peril  brought  this  step  absurd: 

Without  a  moment's  thought  or  puzzle, 

Dame  Weasel,  oped  her  peaked  muzzle 
To  eat  th'  intruder  as  a  bird. 

"Hold!     do  not  wrong  me,"  cried  the  Bat; 

"I'm  truly  no  such  thing  as  that. 
Your  eyesight  strange  conclusions  gathers. 
What  makes  a  bird,  I  pray?     Its  feathers. 

I'm  cousin  of  the  mice  and  rats. 

Great  Jupiter  confound  the  cats!" 
The  Bat,  by  such  adroit  replying, 
Twice  saved  herself  from  dying. 

And  many  a  human  stranger 
Thus  turns  his  coat  in  danger; 
And  sings,  as  suits,  where'er  he  goes, 
"God  save  the  king!"  —  or  "save  his  foes"9 


The  Dove  and  the  Ant 

A  DOVE  came  to  a  brook  to  drink, 
When,  leaning  o'er  its  crumbling  brink, 
An  Ant  fell  in,  and  vainly  tried, 
In  this,  to  her,  an  ocean  tide, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  285 

To  reach  the  land;  whereat  the  Dove, 
With  every  living  thing  in  love, 
Was  prompt  a  spire  of  grass  to  throw  her, 
By  which  the  Ant  regain'd  the  shore. 

A  barefoot  scamp,  both  mean  and  sly, 
Soon  after  chanced  this  Dove  to  spy; 
And,  being  arm'd  with  bow  and  arrow, 

The  hungry  codger  doubted  not 

The  bird  of  Venus,  in  his  pot, 
Would  make  a  soup  before  the  morrow. 
Just  as  his  deadly  bow  he  drew, 

Our  Ant  just  bit  his  heel. 

Roused  by  the  villain's  squeal, 
The  Dove  took  timely  hint,  and  flew 

Far  from  the  rascal's  coop  — 

And  with  her  flew  his  soup. 


The  Cock  and  the  Fox 

UPON  a  tree  there  mounted  guard 

A  veteran  Cock,  adroit  and  cunning; 
When  to  the  roots  a  Fox  up  running, 
Spoke  thus,  in  tones  of  kind  regard: 
"Our  quarrel,  brother,  's  at  an  end; 
Henceforth  I  hope  to  live  your  friend; 

For  peace  now  reigns 
Throughout  the  animal  domains. 


286  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

I  bear  the  news  —  come  down,  I  pray, 
And  give  me  the  embrace  fraternal; 
And  please,  my  brother,  don't  delay. 
So  much  the  tidings  do  concern  all, 
That  I  must  spread  them  far  to-day. 
Now  you  and  yours  can  take  your  walks 
Without  a  fear  or  thought  of  hawks. 
And  should  you  clash  with  them  or  others, 
In  us  you'll  find  the  best  of  brothers; 
For  which  you  may,  this  joyful  night, 
Your  merry  bonfires  light. 
But,  first,  let's  seal  the  bliss 
With  one  fraternal  kiss." 
The  Cock  replied,  "Upon  my  word, 
A  better  thing  I  never  heard; 
And  doubly  I  rejoice 
To  hear  it  from  your  voice; 
There  really  must  be  something  in  it, 
For   yonder    come    two    greyhounds,  which    I 

flatter 
Myself  are  couriers  on  this  very  matter. 

They  come  so  fast,  they'll  be  here  in  a  minute. 
I'll  down,  and  all  of  us  will  seal  the  blessing 
With  general  kissing  and  caressing." 
"Adieu,"  said  Fox;  "my  errand's  pressing; 
I'll  hurry  on  my  way, 
And  we'll  rejoice  some  other  day." 
So  off  the  fellow  scamper'd,  quick  and  light, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  287 

To  gain  the  fox-holes  of  a  neighbouring  height, 
Less  happy  in  his  stratagem  than  flight. 

The  Cock  laugh'd  sweetly  in  his  sleeve  — 
'Tis  doubly  sweet  deceiver  to  deceive. 

The  Wolf,  the  Goat,  and  the  Kid 

As  WENT  a  Goat  of  grass  to  take  her  fill, 
And  browse  the  herbage  of  a  distant  hill, 
She  latch'd  her  door,  and  bid, 
With  matron  care,  her  Kid; 
"My  daughter,  as  you  live, 
This  portal  don't  undo 
To  any  creature  who 
This  watchword  does  not  give: 
'Deuce  take  the  Wolf  and  all  his  race'!" 
The  Wolf  was  passing  near  the  place 
By  chance,  and  heard  the  words  with  pleasure, 

And  laid  them  up  as  useful  treasure; 
And  hardly  need  we  mention, 
Escaped  the  Goat's  attention. 
No  sooner  did  he  see 
The  matron  off,  than  he, 
With  hypocritic  tone  and  face, 
Cried  out  before  the  place, 
"Deuce  take  the  Wolf  and  all  his  race!" 
Not  doubting  thus  to  gain  admission. 
The  Kid,  not  void  of  all  suspicion, 
Peer'd  through  a  crack,  and  cried, 


288  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"Show  me  white  paw  before 
You  ask  me  to  undo  the  door. " 

The  Wolf  could  not,  if  he  had  died, 
For  wolves  have  no  connection 
With  paws  of  that  complexion. 

So,  much  surprised,  our  gourmandiser 

Retired  to  fast  till  he  was  wiser. 

How  would  the  Kid  have  been  undone 

Had  she  but  trusted  to  the  word 

The  Wolf  by  chance  had  overheard! 
Two  sureties  better  are  than  one; 

And  caution's  worth  its  cost, 

Though  sometimes  seeming  lost. 

The  Fox,  the  Monkey,  and  the  Animals 

LEFT  kingless  by  the  lion's  death, 
The  beasts  once  met,  our  story  saith, 
Some  fit  successor  to  install. 
Forth  from  a  dragon-guarded,  moated  place, 
The  crown  was  brought  and,  taken  from  its  case, 
And  being  tried  by  turns  on  all, 
The  heads  of  most  were  found  too  small; 
Some  horned  were,  and  some  too  big; 

Not  one  would  fit  the  regal  gear. 
Forever  ripe  for  such  a  rig, 
The  Monkey,  looking  very  queer, 
Approach'd  with  antics  and  grimaces, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  289 

And,  after  scores  of  monkey  faces, 
With  what  would  seem  a  gracious  stoop, 
Pass'd  through  the  crown  as  through  a  hoop. 

The  beasts,  diverted  with  the  thing, 

Did  homage  to  him  as  their  king. 

The  Fox  alone  the  vote  regretted, 

But  yet  in  public  never  fretted. 

When  he  his  compliments  had  paid 

To  royalty,  thus  newly  made, 

"Great  sire,  I  know  a  place,"  said  he, 
"Where  lies  conceal'd  a  treasure, 

Which,  by  the  right  of  royalty, 
Should  bide  your  royal  pleasure. " 

The  King  lack'd  not  an  appetite 
For  such  financial  pelf, 

And,  not  to  lose  his  royal  right, 
Ran  straight  to  see  it  for  himself. 

It  was  a  trap,  and  he  was  caught. 

Said  Reynard,  "  Would  you  have  it  thought, 

You  Ape,  that  you  can  fill  a  throne, 

And  guard  the  rights  of  all,  alone, 

Not  knowing  how  to  guard  your  own?" 

The  beasts  all  gathered  from  the  farce, 
That  stuff  for  kings  is  very  scarce. 


290  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Rat  and  the  Oyster 

A  COUNTRY  .Rat  of  little  brains, 

Grown  weary  of  inglorious  rest, 
Left  home  with  all  its  straws  and  grains, 

Resolved  to  know  beyond  his  nest. 
When  peeping  through  the  nearest  fence, 
"How  big  the  world  is,  how  immense!" 
He  cried;  "there  rise  the  Alps,  and  that 
Is  doubtless  famous  Ararat." 
His  mountains  were  the  works  of  moles, 
Or  dirt  thrown  up  in  digging  holes ! 
Some  days  of  travel  brought  him  where 
The  tide  had  left  the  Oysters  bare. 
Since  here  our  traveller  saw  the  sea, 
He  thought  these  shells  the  ships  must  be. 
"My  father  was,  in  truth,"  said  he, 

"A  coward,  and  an  ignoramus; 
He  dared  not  travel:  as  for  me, 

I've  seen  the  ships  and  ocean  famous; 
Have  cross'd  the  deserts  without  drinking, 
And  many  dangerous  streams,  unshrinking/ 
Among  the  shut-up  shell-fish,  one 
Was  gaping  widely  at  the  sun; 
It  breathed,  and  drank  the  air's  perfume, 
Expanding,  like  a  flower  in  bloom. 

Both  white  and  fat,  its  meat 

Appear'd  a  dainty  treat. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  291 

Our  Rat,  when  he  this  shell  espied, 
Thought  for  his  stomach  to  provide. 
"If  not  mistaken  in  the  matter," 
Said  he,  "no  meat  was  ever  fatter, 
Or  in  its  flavour  half  so  fine, 
As  that  on  which  to-day  I  dine." 
Thus  full  of  hope,  the  foolish  chap 

Thrust  in  his  head  to  taste, 
And  felt  the  pinching  of  a  trap  — 

The  Oyster  closed  in  haste. 

Now  those  to  wtwm  the  world  is  new 
Are  wonder-struck  at  every  view; 
And  the  marauder  finds  his  match 
When  he  is  caught  who  thinks  to  catch. 

The  Ass  and  the  Dog 

ALONG  the  road  an  Ass  and  Dog 
One  master  following,  did  jog. 
Their  master  slept:  meanwhile,  the  Ass 
Applied  his  nippers  to  the  grass, 
Much  pleased  in  such  a  place  to  stop, 
Though  there  no  thistle  he  could  crop. 
He  would  not  be  too  delicate, 
Nor  spoil  a  dinner  for  a  plate, 
Which,  but  for  that,  his  favourite  dish, 
Were  all  that  any  Ass  could  wish. 

"My  dear  companion,"  Towser  said — , 


2  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

:'  'Tis  as  a  starving  Dog  I  ask  it  — 
Pray  lower  down  your  loaded  basket, 

And  let  me  get  a  piece  of  bread. " 
No  answer  —  not  a  word !  —  indeed, 
The  truth  was,  our  Arcadian  steed 
Fear'd  lest,  for  every  moment's  flight, 
His  nimble  teeth  should  lose  a  bite. 
At  last,  "I  counsel  you,"  said  he,  "to  wait 

Till  master  is  himself  awake, 

Who  then,  unless  I  much  mistake, 
Will  give  his  Dog  the  usual  bait." 
Meanwhile,  there  issued  from  the  wood 
A  creature  of  the  wolfish  brood, 
Himself  by  famine  sorely  pinch'd. 
At  sight  of  him  the  Donkey  flinch'd, 
And  begg'd  the  Dog  to  give  him  aid. 
The  Dog  budged  not,  but  answer  made, 
"I  counsel  thee,  my  friend,  to  run, 
Till  master's  nap  is  fairly  done; 
There  can,  indeed,  be  no  mistake 
That  he  will  very  soon  awake; 
Till  then,  scud  off  with  all  your  might; 
And  should  he  snap  you  in  your  flight, 
This  ugly  Wolf  —  why,  let  him  feel 
The  greeting  of  your  well-shod  heel. 
I  do  not  doubt,  at  all,  but  that 
Will  be  enough  to  lay  him  flat. " 

But  ere  he  ceased  it  was  too  late; 

The  Ass  had  met  his  cruel  fate. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  293 

The  Monkey  and  the  Leopard 

A  MONKEY  and  a  Leopard  were 
The  rivals  at  a  country  fair. 

Each  advertised  his  own  attractions. 
Said  one,  "  Good  sirs,  the  highest  place 
My  merit  knows;  for,  of  his  grace, 
The  King  hath  seen  me  face  to  face; 

And,  judging  by  his  looks  and  actions, 

I  gave  the  best  of  satisfactions. 

When  I  am  dead,  'tis  plain  enough, 

My  skin  will  make  his  royal  muff. 

So  richly  is  it  streak'd  and  spotted, 

So  delicately  waved  and  dotted, 

Its  various  beauty  cannot  fail  to  please." 

And,  thus  invited,  everybody  sees; 

But  soon  they  see,  and  soon  depart. 

The  Monkey's  show-bill  to  the  mart 

His  merits  thus  sets  forth  the  while, 

All  in  his  own  peculiar  style: 

"Come,  gentlemen,  I  pray  you,  come; 

In  magic  arts  I  am  at  home. 

The  whole  variety  in  which 

My  neighbour  boasts  himself  so  rich 

Is  to  his  simple  skin  confined, 

While  mine  is  living  in  the  mind. 

For  I  can  speak,  you  understand; 

Can  dance,  and  practise  sleight-of-hand; 


294  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Can  jump  through  hoops,  and  balance  sticks; 
In  short,  can  do  a  thousand  tricks; 
One  penny  is  my  charge  to  you, 
And,  if  you  think  the  price  won't  do, 
When  you  have  seen,  then  I'll  restore 
Each  man  his  money  at  the  door." 

The  Ape  was  not  to  reason  blind; 
For  who  in  wealth  of  dress  can  find 
Such  charms  as  dwell  in  wealth  of  mind? 
One  meets  our  ever-new  desires, 
The  other  in  a  moment  tires. 
Alas!  how  many  lords  there  are, 

Of  mighty  sway  and  lofty  mien, 
Who,  like  this  Leopard  at  the  fair, 

Show  all  their  talents  on  the  skin! 

The  Rat  and  the  Elephant 

A  RAT,  of  quite  the  smallest  size, 
Fix'd  on  an  Elephant  his  eyes, 
And  jeer'd  the  beast  of  high  descent 
Because  his  feet  so  slowly  went. 
Upon  his  back,  three  stories  high, 
There  sat,  beneath  a  canopy, 
A  certain  sultan  of  renown, 

His  Dog,  and  Cat,  and  wife  sublime^ 
His  parrot,  servant,  and  his  wine, 
All  pilgrims  to  a  distant  town. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  295 

The  Rat  profess'd  to  be  amazed 
That  all  the  people  stood  and  gazed 
With  wonder,  as  he  pass'd  the  road, 
Both  at  the  creature  and  his  load. 
"As  if,"  said  he,  "to  occupy 
A  little  more  of  land  or  sky 
Made  one,  in  view  of  common  sense, 
Of  greater  worth  and  consequence! 
What  see  ye,  men,  in  this  parade, 
That  food  for  wonder  need  be  made? 
The  bulk  which  makes  a  child  afraid? 
In  truth,  I  take  myself  to  be, 
In  all  aspects,  as  good  as  he." 
And  further  might  have  gone  his  vaunt; 
But,  darting  down,  the  Cat 
Convinced  him  that  a  Rat 
Is  smaller  than  an  elephant. 

The  Acorn  and  the  Pumpkin 

GOD'S  works  are  good.     This  truth  to  prove 
Around  the  world  I  need  not  move; 

I  do  it  by  the  nearest  Pumpkin. 
"This  fruit  so  large,  on  vine  so  small," 

Surveying  once,  exclaim'd  a  bumpkin  — 
"What  could  He  mean  who  made  us  all? 
He's  left  this  Pumpkin  out  of  place. 
If  I  had  order'd  in  the  case, 
Upon  that  oak  it  should  have  hung 


296  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

A  noble  fruit  as  ever  swung 

To  grace  a  tree  so  firm  and  strong. 

Indeed,  it  was  a  great  mistake, 

As  this  discovery  teaches, 
That  I  myself  did  not  partake 
His  counsels  whom  my  curate  preaches. 
All  things  had  then  in  order  come; 
This  Acorn,  for  example, 

Not  bigger  than  my  thumb, 
Had  not  disgraced  a  tree  so  ample. 
The  more  I  think,  the  more  I  wonder 
To  see  outraged  proportion's  laws, 
And  that  without  the  slightest  cause; 
God  surely  made  an  awkward  blunder." 
With  such  reflections  proudly  fraught, 
Our  sage  grew  tired  of  mighty  thought, 
And  threw  himself  on  Nature's  lap, 
Beneath  an  oak,  to  take  his  nap. 
Plump  on  his  nose,  by  lucky  hap, 
An  Acorn  fell:  he  waked,  and  in 
The  scarf  he  wore  beneath  his  chin, 
He  found  the  cause  of  such  a  bruise 
As  made  him  different  language  use. 
"Oh!  Oh!"  he  cried;  "I  bleed!  I  bleed! 
And  this  is  what  has  done  the  deed! 
But,  truly,  what  had  been  my  fate, 
Had  this  had  half  a  Pumpkin's  weight! 
I  see  that  God  had  reasons  good, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  297 

And  all  His  works  were  understood." 
Thus  home  he  went  in  humbler  mood. 


The  Cat  and  the  Fox 

THE  Cat  and  Fox,  when  saints  were  all  the  rage 
Together  went  upon  pilgrimage. 
Our  Pilgrims,  as  a  thing  of  course, 
Disputed  till  their  throats  were  hoarse. 

Then,  dropping  to  a  lower  tone, 
They  talk'd  of  this,  and  talk'd  of  that, 
Till  Reynard  whisper'd  to  the  Cat, 

"You  think  yourself  a  knowing  one: 
How  many  cunning  tricks  have  you? 
For  I've  a  hundred,  old  and  new, 
All  ready  in  my  haversack." 
The  Cat  replied,  "I  do  not  lack, 

Though  with  but  one  provided; 
And,  truth  to  honour,  for  that  matter, 
I  hold  it  than  a  thousand  better." 

In  fresh  dispute  they  sided; 
And  loudly  were  they  at  it,  when 
Approach'd  a  mob  of  dogs  and  men. 
"Now,"  said  the  Cat,  "your  tricks  ransack, 
And  put  your  cunning  brains  to  rack, 
One  life  to  save;  I'll  show  you  mine  — 
A  trick,  you  see,  for  saving  nine. " 
With  that,  she  climb'd  a  lofty  pine. 


298  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Fox  his  hundred  ruses  tried, 

And  yet  no  safety  found. 
A  hundred  times  he  falsified. 

The  nose  of  every  hound 
Was  here,  and  there,  and  everywhere, 

Above,  and  under  ground; 
But  yet  to  stop  he  did  not  dare, 
Pent  in  a  hole,  it  was  no  joke, 
To  meet  the  terriers  or  the  smoke. 
So,  leaping  into  upper  air, 
He  met  two  dogs,  that  choked  him  there. 

Expedients  may  be  too  many, 

Consuming  time  to  choose  and  try. 

On  one,  but  that  as  good  as  any, 
'Tis  best  in  danger  to  rely. 


The  City  Rat  and  the  Country  Rat 

A  CITY  Rat,  one  night 
Did  with  a  civil  stoop 

A  Country  Rat  invite 
To  end  a  turtle  soup. 

Upon  a  Turkey  carpet 

They  found  the  table  spread, 
And  sure  I  need  not  harp  it 

How  well  the  fellows  fed. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  299 

The    entertainment    was 

A  truly  noble  one; 
But  some  unlucky  cause 

Disturbed  it  when  begun 

It  was  a  slight  rat-tat, 

That  put  their  joys  to  rout; 

Out  ran  the  City  Rat; 

His  guest,  too,  scampered  out. 

Our  rats  but  fairly  quit, 

The  fearful  knocking  ceased, 
"Return  we,"  said  the  cit, 

"To  finish  there  our  feast." 

"No,"  said  the  Rustic  Rat; 

"To-morrow  dine  with  me. 
I'm  not  offended  at 

Your  feast  so  grand  and  free, 

For  I've  no  fare  resembling; 
But  then  I  eat  at  leisure, 
And  would  not  swap  for  pleasure 

So  mixed  with  fear  and  trembling. 


The  Ploughman  and  His  Sons 

A  WEALTHY  Ploughman  drawing  near  his  end 
Call'd  in  his  Sons  apart  from  every  friend, 


300  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

And  said,  "When  of  your  sire  bereft, 

The  heritage  our  fathers  left 

Guard  well,  nor  sell  a  single  field. 

A  treasure  in  it  is  conceal'd: 

The  place,  precisely,  I  don't  know, 

But  industry  will  serve  to  show. 

The  harvest  past,  Time's  forelock  take, 

And  search  with  plough,  and  spade,  and  rake; 

Turn  over  every  inch  of  sod, 

Nor  leave  unsearch'd  a  single  clod." 

The  father  died.     The  Sons  in  vain  — 

Turn'd  o'er  the  soil,  and  o'er  again; 

That  year  their  acres  bore 

More  grain  than  e'er  before. 

Though  hidden  money  found  they  none, 

Yet  had  their  Father  wisely  done, 

To  show  by  such  a  measure 

That  toil  itself  is  treasure. 

The  farmer 's  patient  care  and  toil 
Are  oftener  wanting  than  the  soil. 


The  Fox,  the  Wolf,  and  the  Horse 

A  Fox,  though  young,  by  no  means  raw, 

Had  seen  a  Horse,  the  first  he  ever  saw: 
"Ho!  neighbour  Wolf,"  said  he  to  one  quite 
green, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  301 

"A  creature  in  our  meadow  I  have  seen  — 
Sleek,  grand !  I  seem  to  see  him  yet  — 
The  finest  beast  I  ever  met." 
"Is  he  a  stouter  one  than  we?" 
The  Wolf  demanded,  eagerly; 
"Some  picture  of  him  let  me  see." 
"  If  I  could  paint, "  said  Fox,  "  I  should  delight 
T*  anticipate  your  pleasure  at  the  sight; 
But  come;  who  knows?  perhaps  it  is  a  prey 

By  fortune  offer'd  in  our  way." 
They  went.    The  Horse,  turn'd  loose  to  graze? 
Not  liking  much  their  looks  and  ways, 

Was  just  about  to  gallop  off. 

"Sir,"  said  the  Fox,  "your  humble  servants,  we 

Make  bold  to  ask  you  what  your  name  may  be. " 

The  Horse,  an  animal  with  brains  enough, 

Replied,   "Sirs,  you  yourselves  may  read  my 

name; 

My  shoer  round  my  heel  hath  writ  the  same." 
The  Fox  excus'd  himself  for  want  of  knowledge : 
"Me,  sir,  my  parents  did  not  educate, 

So  poor,  a  hole  was  their  entire  estate. 
My  friend,  the  Wolf,  however,  taught  at  college, 
Could  read  it,  were  it  even  Greek." 

The.  Wolf,  to  flattery  weak, 
Approach'd  to  verify  the  boast; 
For  which  four  teeth  he  lost. 
The  high  raised  hoof  came  down  with  such  a  blow 


302  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

As  laid  him  bleeding  on  the  ground  full  low. 

"My  brother,"  said  the  Fox,  "this  shows  how 

just 

What  once  was  taught  me  by  a  fox  of  wit  — 
Which  on  thy  jaws  this  animal  hath  writ  — 

'All  unknown  things  the  wise  mistrust.'" 

The  Woodman  and  Mercury 

A  MAN  that  labour'd  in  the  wood 
Had  lost  his  honest  livelihood; 

That  is  to  say, 
His  axe  was  gone  astray. 
He  had  no  tools  to  spare; 
This  wholly  earn'd  his  fare. 
Without  a  hope  beside, 
He  sat  him  down  and  cried, 

"Alas,  my  axe!  where  can  it  be? 
O  Jove !  but  send  it  back  to  me, 
And  it  shall  strike  good  blows  for  thee. " 
His  prayer  in  high  Olympus  heard, 
Swift  Mercury  started  at  the  word. 

"Your  axe  must  not  be  lost,"  said  he: 
-  "Now,  will  you  know  it  when  you  see? 
An  axe  I  found  upon  the  road." 
With  that  an  axe  of  gold  he  show'd. 

"Is't  this?"  The  Woodman  answer'd,  "Nay." 
An  axe  of  silver,  bright  and  gay, 
Refused  the  honest  Woodman  too. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  303 

At  last  the  finder  brought  to  view 

An  axe  of  iron,  steel,  and  wood. 
"That's  mine,"  he  said,  in  joyful  mood; 
"With  that  I'll  quite  contented  be." 

The  god  replied,  "I  give  the  three, 

As  due  reward  of  honesty." 

This  luck  when  neighbouring  choppers  knew, 

They  lost  their  axes,  not  a  few, 

And  sent  their  prayers  to  Jupiter 

So  fast,  he  knew  not  which  to  hear. 

His  winged  son,  however,  sent 

With  gold  and  silver  axes,  went. 

Each  would  have  thought  himself  a  fool 

Not  to  have  own'd  the  richest  tool. 

But  Mercury  promptly  gave,  instead 

Of  it,  a  blow  upon  the  head. 

With  simple  truth  to  be  contented, 
Is  surest  not  to  be  repented: 
But  still  there  are  who  would 
With  evil  trap  the  good, 
Whose  cunning  is  but  stupid, 
For  Jove  is  never  duped. 

The  Eagle  and  the  Owl 

THE  Eagle  and  the  Owl,  resolved  to  cease 
Their  war,  embraced  in  pledge  of  peace. 
On  faith  of  King,  on  faith  of  Owl,  they  swore 


304  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

That  they  would  eat  each  other's  chicks  no  more. 
"But  know  you  mine?"  said  Wisdom's  bird. 
"Not  I,  indeed,"  the  Eagle  cried. 
"The  worse  for  that,"  the  Owl  replied: 
"I  fear  your  oath's  a  useless  word; 
I  fear  that  you,  as  king,  will  not 
Consider  duly  who  or  what: 
Adieu,  my  young,  if  you  should  meet  them!" 

"Describe  them,  then,  and  I'll  not  eat  them," 

The  Eagle  said.     The  Owl  replied: 

"My  little  ones,  I  say  with  pride, 

For  grace  of  form  cannot  be  match'd  — 

The  prettiest  birds  that  e'er  were  hatch'd; 

By  this  you  cannot  fail  to  know  them; 

'Tis  needless,  therefore,  that  I  show  them. " 

At  length  God  gives  the  Owl  some  heirs, 

And  while  at  early  eve  abroad  he  fares, 
In  quest  of  birds  and  mice  for  food, 
Our  Eagle  haply  spies  the  brood, 
As  on  some  craggy  rock  they  sprawl, 
Or  nestle  in  some  ruined  wall, 
(But  which  it  matters  not  at  all,) 
And  thinks  them  ugly  little  frights, 
Grim,  sad,  with  voice  like  shrieking  sprites. 

"These  chicks,"  says  he,  "with  looks  almost 
infernal, 

Can't  be  the  darlings  of  our  friend  nocturnal. 

I'll  sup  of  them."  And  so  he  did,  not  slightly: 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  305 

He  never  sups,  if  he  can  help  it,  lightly. 

The  Owl  return'd;  and,  sad,  he  found 

Nought  left  but  claws  upon  the  ground. 
He  pray'd  the  gods  above  and  gods  below 
To  smite  the  brigand  who  had  caused  his  woe. 
Quoth  one,  "On  you  alone  the  blame  must  fall; 
Thinking  your  like  the  loveliest  of  all, 
You  told  the  Eagle  of  your  young  ones'  graces; 

You  gave  the  picture  of  their  faces: 

Had  it  of  likeness  any  traces?" 

The  Earthen  Pot  and  the  Iron  Pot 

AN  IRON  Pot  proposed 

To  an  Earthen  Pot  a  journey. 

The  latter  was  opposed, 
Expressing  the  concern  he 

Had  felt  about  the  danger 

Of  going  out  a  ranger. 

He  thought  the  kitchen  hearth 

The  safest  place  on  earth 

For  one  so  very  brittle. 

"For  thee,  who  art  a  kettle, 

And  hast  a  tougher  skin, 

There's  nought  to  keep  thee  in." 

"I'll  be  thy  bodyguard," 
Replied  the  Iron  Pot; 

"If  anything  that's  hard 

Should  threaten  tLee  a  jot, 


306  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Between  you  I  will  go, 

And  save  thee  from  the  blow." 

This  offer  him  persuaded. 

The  Iron  Pot  paraded 

Himself  as  guard  and  guide 

Close  at  his  cousin's  side. 

Now,  in  their  tripod  way, 

They  hobble  as  they  may; 

And  eke  together  bolt 

At  every  little  jolt  — 

Which  gives  the  crockery  pain; 
But  presently  his  comrade  hits 
So  hard,  he  dashes  him  to  bits, 

Before  he  can  complain. 

Take  care  that  you  associate 
With  equals  only,  lest  your  fate 
Between  these  pots  should  find  its  mate. 

The  Wolf  and  the  Lean  Dog 

A  TROUTLING,  some  time  since, 

Endeavour'd  vainly  to  convince 
A  hungry  fisherman 
Of  his  unfitness  for  the  frying-pan.  N 
The  fisherman  had  reason  good — "\ 
The  troutling  did  the  best  he  could  — 

Both  argued  for  their  lives. 
Now,  if  my  present  purpose  thrives, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  307 

I'll  prop  my  former  proposition 
By  building  on  a  small  addition. 
A  certain  Wolf,  in  point  of  wit 
The  prudent  fisher's  opposite, 
A  Dog  once  finding  far  astray, 
Prepared  to  take  him  as  his  prey. 
The  Dog  his  leanness  plead; 
"Your  lordship,  sure,"  he  said, ? 
"  Cannot  be  very  eager 
To  eat  a  dog  so  meagre. 
To  wait  a  little  do  not  grudge: 
The  wedding  of  my  master's  only  daughter 
.Will  eause  of  fatted  calves  and  fowls  a  slaughter; 
And  then,  as  you  yourself  can  judge, 
I  cannot  help  becoming  fatter." 
The  Wolf,  believing,  waived  the  matter, 
And  so,  some  days  therefrom, 
Return'd  with  sole  design  to  see 
If  fat  enough  his  Dog  might  be. 
The  rogue  was  now  at  home: 
He  saw  the  hunter  through  the  fence. 

"My  friend,"  said  he,  "please  wait; 
I'll  be  with  you  a  moment  hence, 

And  fetch  our  porter  of  the  gate. " 
This  porter  was  a  dog  immense, 
That  left  to  wolves  no  future  tense. 
Suspicion  gave  our  Wolf  a  jog  — 
It  might  not  be  so  safely  tamper'd. 


308  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"My  service  to  your  porter  dog," 
Was  his  reply,  as  off  he  scampered. 
His  legs  proved  better  than  his  head, 
And  saved  him  life  to  learn  his  trade. 


The  Ears  of  the  Hare 

SOME  beast  with  horns  did  gore 

The  Lion;  and  that  sovereign  dread, 
Resolved  to  suffer  so  no  more, 

Straight  banish'd  from  his  realm,  'tis  said, 
All  sorts  of  beasts  with  horns  — 
Rams,  bulls,  goats,  stags,  and  unicorns. 

Such  brutes  all  promptly  fled. 
A  Hare,  the  shadow  of  his  ears  perceiving, 

Could  hardly  help  believing 
That  some  vile  spy  for  horns  would  take  them, 
And  food  for  accusation  make  them. 

"Adieu,"   said  he,   "my  neighbour  cricket; 

I  take  my  foreign  ticket. 
My  ears,  should  I  stay  here, 
Will  turn  to  horns,  I  fear; 

And  were  they  shorter  than  a  bird's, 

I  fear  the  effect  of  words. " 
"These   horns!"   the  cricket  answer'd;   "why, 
God  made  them  ears  who  can  deny?" 
"Yes,"  said  the  coward,  "still  they'll  make  them 
horns, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  309 

And  horns,  perhaps,  of  unicorns! 

In  vain  shall  I  protest, 
With  all  the  learning  of  the  schools: 

My  reasons  they  will  send  to  rest 
In  th'  Hospital  of  Fools." 

The  Ass  Carrying  Relics 

AN  Ass,  with  relics  for  his  load, 
Supposed  the  worship  on  the  road 
Meant  for  himself  alone, 

And  took  on  lofty  airs, 
Receiving  as  his  own 
/     The  incense  and  the  prayers. 
Some  one,  who  saw  his  great  mistake, 
Cried,  "Master  Donkey,  do  not  make 

Yourself  so  big  a  fool. 
Not  you  they  worship,  but  your  pack; 
They  praise  the  idols  on  your  back, 

And  count  yourself  a  paltry  tool. " 

'Tis  thus  a  brainless  magistrate 
Is  honoured  for  his  robe  of  state. 

The  Two  Mules 

Two  Mules  were  bearing  on  their  backs, 
One,  oats;  the  other,  silver  of  the  tax. 
The  latter  glorying  in  his  load, 


310  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

March'd  proudly  forward  on  the  road; 
And,  from  the  jingle  of  his  bell, 
'Twas  plain  he  liked  his  burden  well. 
But  in  a  wild-wood  glen 
A  band  of  robber  men 
Rush'd  forth  upon  the  twain. 

Well  with  the  silver  pleased, 
They  by  the  bridle  seized 
The  treasure  Mule  so  vain. 
Poor  Mule!  in  struggling  to  repel 
His  ruthless  foes,  he  fell 

Stabb'd  through;   and   with   a   bitter   sighing, 
He  cried:  "Is  this  the  lot  they  promised  me? 
My  humble  friend  from  danger  free, 
While,  weltering  in  my  gore,  I'm  dying?" 

"My  friend,"  his  fellow-mule  replied, 
"It  is  not  well  to  have  one's  work  too  high. 
If  thou  hadst  been  a  miller's  drudge,  as  I, 
Thou  wouldst  not  thus  have  died." 


The  Lion  and  the  Gnat 

"Go,  PALTRY  insect,  nature's  meanest  brat!" 
Thus  said  the  royal  Lion  to  the  Gnat. 
The  Gnat  declared  immediate  war. 
"Think  you,"  said  he,  "your  royal  name 

To  me  worth  caring  for? 
Think  you  I  tremble  at  your  power  or  fame? 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  311 

The  ox  is  bigger  far  than  you; 
Yet  him  I  drive,  and  all  his  crew." 
This  said,  as  one  that  did  no  fear  owe, 
Himself  he  blew  the  battle  charge, 
Himself  both  trumpeter  and  hero. 

At  first  he  play'd  about  at  large, 
Then  on  the  Lion's  neck,  at  leisure,  settled, 
And  there  the  royal  beast  full  sorely  nettled. 
With  foaming  mouth,  and  flashing  eye, 
He  roars.     All  creatures  hide  or  fly — 
Such  mortal  terror  at 
The  work  of  one  poor  Gnat! 
With  constant  change  of  his  attack, 
The  snout  now  stinging,  now  the  back, 
And  now  the  chambers  of  the  nose; 
The  pigmy  fly  no  mercy  shows. 
The  Lion's  rage  was  at  its  height; 
His  viewless  foe  now  laugh'd  outright, 
When  on  his  battle-ground  he  saw, 
That  every  savage  tooth  and  claw 
Had  got  its  proper  beauty 
By  doing  bloody  duty; 
Himself,  the  hapless  Lion  tore  his  hide, 
And^lash'd  with  sounding  tail  from  side  to  side. 
Ah!  bootless  blow,  and  bite,  and  curse! 
He  beat  the  harmless  air,  and  worse; 
For,  though  so  fierce  and  stout, 
By  effort  wearied  out, 


312  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

He  fainted,  fell,  gave  up  the  quarrel; 
The  Gnat  retires  with  verdant  laurel. 

We  often  have  the  most  to  fear 
From  those  we  most  despise; 

Again,  great  risks  a  man  may  clear 
Who  by  the  smallest  dies. 

The  Countryman  and  the  Serpent 

A  COUNTRYMAN,  as  ^Esop  certifies, 
A  charitable  man,  but  not  so  wise, 

One  day  in  winter  found, 

Stretch'd  on  the  snowy  ground, 

A  chill'd  or  frozen  Snake, 

As  torpid  as  a  stake, 

And,  if  alive,  devoid  of  sense. 
He  took  him  up,  and  bore  him  home, 

And,  thinking  not  what  recompense 
For  such  a  charity  would  come, 

Before   the  fire   stretch'd  him, 
And  back  to  being  fetch'd  him. 

The  Snake  scarce  felt  the  genial  heat 

Before  his  heart  with  native  malice  beat. 
He  raised  his  head,  thrust  out  his  forked  tongue, 
Coil'd  up,  and  at  his  benefactor  sprung. 
"Ungrateful  wretch!"  said  he,  "is  this  the  way 

My  care  and  kindness  you  repay? 
Now  you  shall  die."     With  that  his  axe  he  takes, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  313 

And  with  two  blows  three  serpents  makes. 
Trunk,   head,   and  tail  were  separate   snakes; 

And,  leaping  up  with  all  their  might, 

They  vainly  sought  to  reunite. 

9Tis  good  and  lovely  to  be  kind; 
But  charity  should  not  be  blind; 
For  as  to  wretchedness  ingrate, 
You  cannot  raise  it  from  its  wretched  state. 

The  Dairywoman  and  the  Pot  of  Milk 

A  POT  of  Milk  upon  her  cushioned  crown, 
Good    Peggy    hastened    to    the    market    town; 
Short-clad  and  light,  with  step  she  went, 
Not  fearing  any  accident; 

Indeed  to  be  the  nimbler  tripper, 
Her  dress  that  day, 
The  truth  to  say, 
Was  simply  petticoat  and  slipper. 
And,  thus  bedight, 
Good  Peggy,  light, 
Her  gains  already  counted, 
Laid  out  the  cash 
At  single  dash, 

Which  to  a  hundred  eggs  amounted. 
Three  nests  she  made, 
Wliich,    by   the   aid 
Of    diligence    and    care,    were    hatched. 


314  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"To  raise  the  chicks, 

We'll  easily  fix," 
Said  she,  "beside  our  cottage  thatched. 

The  fox  must  get 

More  cunning  yet, 
Or  leave  enough  to  buy  a  pig. 

With  little  care, 

And  any  fare, 
He'll  grow  quite  fat  and  big; 

And  then  the  price 

Will  be  so  nice 
For  which  the  pork  will  sell! 

'Twill  go  quite  hard 

But  in  our  yard 

I'll  bring  a  cow  and  calf  to  dwell  — 
A  calf  to  frisk  among  the  flock!" 
The  thought  made  Peggy  do  the  same; 
And  down  at  once  the  milk  pot  came, 

And  perished  with  the  shock. 
Calf,    cow,    and   pig,    and    chicks,    adieu! 
Your  mistress'  face  is  sad  to  view  — 
She  gives  a  tear  to  fortune  spilt; 
Then,    with    the    down-cast    look    of    guilt, 
Home  to  her  husband  empty  goes, 
Somewhat  in  danger  of  his  blows. 

Who  buildeth  not,  sometimes,  in  air, 
His  cots,  or  seats,  or  castles  fair? 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  315 

From  kings  to  dairy  women  —  all  — 
The  wise,  the  foolish,  great  and  small  — 
Each    thinks    his    waking    dream    the    best. 
Some  flattering  error  fills  the  breast: 
The  world,  with  all  its  wealth,  is  ours, 
Its  honours,   dames,   and  loveliest  bowers. 
Instinct  with  valour,  where  alone, 
I  hurl  the  monarch  from  his  throne; 
The  people  glad  to  see  him  dead, 
Elect  me  monarch  in  his  stead, 
And  diadems  rain  on  my  head. 
Some  accident  then  calls  me  back, 
And  I'm  no  more  than  simple  Jack! 


The  Monkey  and  the  Cat 

SLY  Bertrand  and  Ratto  in  company  sat, 
(The  one  was  a  Monkey,  the  other  a  Cat,) 

Co-servants  and  lodgers: 

More  mischievous   codgers 
Ne'er   mess'd   from    a   platter,   since    platters 

were    flat. 

Was  anything  wrong  in  the  house  or  about  it. 
The  neighbours  were  blameless  —  no  mortal 

could  doubt  it; 

For  Bertrand  was  thievish,  and  Ratto  so  nice, 
More  attentive  to  cheese  than  he  was  to  the  mice. 
One  day  the  two  plunderers  sat  by  the  fire, 


316  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Where  chestnuts  were  roasting,  with  looks  oi 
desire. 

To  steal  them  would  be  a  right  noble  affair. 

A  double  inducement  our  heroes  drew  there  — 

'Twould  benefit  them,  could  they  swallow 
their  fill, 

And  then  'twould  occasion  to  somebody  ill. 

Said  Bertrand  to  Ratto,  "My  brother,  to-day 

Exhibit  your  powers  in  a  masterly  way, 
And  take  me  these  chestnuts,  I  pray. 
Which  were  I  but  otherwise  fitted 
(As   I   am   ingeniously   witted) 
For  pulling  things  out  of  the  flame, 
Would  stand  but  a  pitiful  game." 

;"Tis  done,"  replied  Ratto,  all  prompt  to  obey; 

And  thrust  out  his  paw7  in  a  delicate  way. 
First  giving  the  ashes  a  scratch, 
He  open'd  the  coveted  batch; 
Then  lightly   and   quickly  impinging, 
He  drew  out,  in  spite  of  the  singeing, 

One  after  another,  the  chestnuts  at  last — 

While  Bertrand  contrived  to  devour  them  as  fast. 
A  servant  girl  enters.  Adieu  to  the  fun. 
Our  Ratto  was  hardly  contented,  says  one. 

No  more  are  the  princes,  by  flattery  paid 
For  furnishing  help  in  a  different  trade, 
And  burning  their  fingers  to  bring 
More  power  to  some  mightier  king. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  317 

The  Lioness  and  the  Bear 

THE  Lioness  had  lost  her  young; 

A  hunter  stole  it  from  the  vale; 
The  forests  and  the  mountains  rung 

Responsive  to   her  hideous   wail. 
Nor  night,  nor  charms  of  sweet  repose, 
Could  still  the  loud  lament  that  rose 

From   that   grim   forest   queen. 
No  animal,  as  you  might  think, 
With  such  a  noise  could  sleep  a  wink. 
A  Bear  presumed  to  intervene. 

"One  word,  sweet  friend,"  quoth  she, 
"And  that  is   all,   from   me. 
The  young  that  through  your  teeth  have  pass'd, 
In  file  unbroken  by  a  fast, 

Had  they  nor  dam  nor  sire?" 
"They  had  them  both."     "Then  I  desire, 
Since  all  their  deaths  caused  no  such  grievous 

riot, 

While  mothers  died  of  grief  beneath  your  fiat, 
To  know  why  you  yourself  cannot  be  quiet?" 
"  I   quiet !  —  I !  —  a  wretch  bereaved ! 
My  only  son !  —  such  anguish  be  relieved ! 
No,  never!     All  for  me  below 
Is  but  a  life  of  tears  and  woe!" — 
"But  say,  why  doom  yourself  to  sorrow  so?" 
"Alas!  'tis  Destiny  that  is  my  foe." 


318  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Such  language,  since  the  mortal  fall, 

Has  fallen  from  the  lips  of  all. 

Ye  human  wretches,  give  your  heed; 

For  your  complaints  there's  little  need. 
Let  him  who  thinks  his  own  the  hardest  case, 

Some  widowed,   childless  Hecuba  behold, 

Herself  to  toil  and  shame  of  slavery  sold, 
And  he  will  own  the  wealth  of  heavenly  grace. 


The  Cat  and  the  Two  Sparrows 

CONTEMPORARY  with  a  Sparrow  tame 
There  lived  a  Cat;  from  tenderest  age, 
Of  both,  the  basket  and  the  cage 
Had  household  gods  the  same. 
The  Bird's  sharp  beak  full  oft  provoked  the  Cat, 
Who  play'd  in  turn,  but  with  a  gentle  pat, 
His  wee  friend  sparing  with  a  merry  laugh, 
Not  punishing  his  faults  by  half. 

In  short,  he  scrupled  much  the  harm, 
Should  he  with  points  his  ferule  arm. 
The  Sparrow,  less  discreet  than  he, 
With  dagger  beak  made  very  free. 
Sir  Cat,  a  person  wise  and  staid, 
Excused  the  warmth  with  which  he  play'd: 
For  'tis  full  half  of  friendship's  art 
To  take  no  joke  in  serious  part. 
Familiar  since  they  saw  the  light, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  319 

Mere  habit  kept  their  friendship  good; 
Fair  play  had  never  turn'd  to  fight, 

Till,  of  their  neighbourhood, 
Another   sparrow   came   to   greet 
Old  Ratto  grave  and  Saucy  Pete. 
Between  the  birds   a   quarrel  rose, 

And  Ratto  took  his  side. 
'A  pretty  stranger,  with  such  blows 

To  beat  our  friend!"  he  cried. 
'A  neighbour's  sparrow  eating  ours! 
Not  so,  by  all  the  feline  powers." 
And  quick  the  stranger  he  devours. 
"Now,   truly,"   saith   Sir   Cat, 
"I  know  how  sparrows  taste  by  that. 
Exquisite,   tender,   delicate!" 
This  thought  soon  seal'd  the  other's  fate. 
But  hence  what  moral  can  I  bring? 
For,  lacking  that  important  thing, 
A  fable  lacks  its  finishing: 
I  seem  to  see  of  one  some  trace, 
But  still  its  shadow  mocks  my  chase. 


The  Sick  Stag 

A  STAG,  where  stags  abounded, 
Fell   sick  and   was   surrounded 
Forthwith   by   comrades   kind, 
All  —  pressing  to  assist, 


320  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Or  see,  their  friend,  at  least, 
And  ease  his  anxious  mind  — 

An    irksome    multitude. 
"Ah,  sirs!"  the  sick  was  fain  to  cry? 
"Pray  leave  me  here  to  die, 

As  others  do,  in  solitude. 
Pray,  let  your  kind  attentions  cease, 
Till  death  my  spirit  shall  release." 
But  comforters  are  not  so  sent: 
On  duty  sad  full  long  intent, 
When  Heaven  pleased,  they  went: 
But  not  without  a  friendly  glass; 
That  is  to  say,  they  cropp'd  the  grass 
And  leaves  which  in  that  quarter  grew, 
From  which  the  sick  his  pittance  drew. 
By  kindness  thus  compell'd  to  fast, 
He  died  for  want  of  food  at  last. 

The  men  take  off  no  trifling  dole 
Who  heal  the  body,  or  the  soul. 
Alas  the  times!  do  what  we  will, 
They  have  their  payment,  cure  or  kill. 


The  Wolf  and  the  Fox 

"DEAR  Wolf,"  complain'd  a  hungry  Fox, 
"A  lean  chick's  meat,  or  veteran  cock's, 
Is  all  I  get  by  toil  or  trick: 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  321 

Of  such  a  living  I  am  sick. 
With  far  less  risk,  you've  better  cheer; 
A  house  you  need  not  venture  near, 
But  I  must  do  it,  spite  of  fear. 
Pray,  make  me  master  of  your  trade. 
And  let  me  by  that  means  be  made 
The  first  of  all  my  race  that  took 
Fat  mutton  to  his  larder's  hook: 
Your  kindness  shall  not  be  repented." 
The  Wolf  quite  readily  consented. 
"I  have  a  brother,  lately  dead: 
Go  fit  his  skin  to  yours,"  he  said. 

'Twas  done;  and  then  the  wolf  proceeded: 
"  Now  mark  you  well  what  must  be  done 
The  dogs  that  guard  the  flock  to  shun." 

The  Fox  the  lessons  strictly  heeded. 
At  first  he  boggled  in  his  dress; 
But  awkwardness  grew  less  and  less, 
Till  perseverance  gave  success. 
His  education  scarce  complete, 
A  flock,  his  scholarship  to  greet, 
Came  rambling  out  that  way. 
The  new-made  Wolf  his  work  began, 
Amidst  the  heedless  nibblers  ran, 

And  spread  a  sore  dismay. 
The  bleating  host  now  surely  thought 
That  fifty  wolves  were  on  the  spot: 

Dog,  shepherd,  sheep,  all  homeward  fled, 


322  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

And  left  a  single  sheep  in  pawn, 

Which  Reynard  seized  when  they  were  gone. 

But,  ere  upon  his  prize  he  fed, 
There  crow'd  a  cock  near  by,  and  down 
The  scholar  threw  his  prey  and  gown, 
That  he  might  run  that  way  the  faster  — 
Forgetting  lessons,  prize  and  master. 

Reality,  in  every  station, 

Will  burst  out  on  the  first  occasion. 


The  Woods  and  the  Woodman 

A  CERTAIN  Wood-chopper  lost  or  broke 

From  his  axe's  eye  a  bit  of  oak. 

The  forest  must  needs  be  somewhat  spared 

While  such  a  loss  was  being  repair'd. 

Came  the  man  at  last,  and  humbly  pray'd 
That  the  Woods  would  kindly  lend  to  him  — 
A  moderate  loan  —  a  single  limb, 

Whereof  might  another  helve  be  made, 

And  his  axe  should  elsewhere  drive  its  trade. 

Oh,  the  oaks  and  firs  that  then  might  stand, 

A  pride  and  a  joy  throughout  the  land, 

For  their  ancientness  and  glorious  charms! 

The  innocent  Forest  lent  him  arms; 

But  bitter  indeed  was  her  regret; 

For  the  wretch,  his  axe  new-helved  and  whet, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  323 

Did  nought  but  his  benefactress  spoil 
Of  the  finest  trees  that  graced  her  soil; 
And  ceaselessly  was  she  made  to  groan, 
Doing  penance  for  that  fatal  loan. 

Behold  the  loorld-stage  and  its  actors, 
Where  benefits  hurt  benefactors! 

A  weary  theme,  and  full  of  pain; 
For  where's  the  shade  so  cool  and  sweet, 
Protecting  strangers  from  the  heat, 
But  might  of  such  a  wrong  complain? 
Alas!  I  vex  myself  in  vain; 
Ingratitude,  do  what  I  will, 
Is  sure  to  be  the  fashion  still. 


The  Shepherd  and  the  Lion 

THE  Fable  yEsop  tells  is  nearly  this: 
A  Shepherd  from  his  flock  began  to  miss, 
And  long'd  to  catch  the  stealer  of  his  sheep. 
Before  a  cavern,  dark  and  deep, 
Where  wolves  retired  by  day  to  sleep, 
Which   he   suspected   as   the   thieves, 
He  set  his  trap  among  the  leaves; 
And,  ere  he  left  the  place, 
He  thus  invoked  celestial  grace: 
"O  king  of  all  the  powers  divine, 
Against  the  rogue  but  grant  me  this   delight, 


324  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

That  this  my  trap  may  catch  him  in  my  sight, 
And  I,  from  twenty  calves  of  mine, 
Will  make  the  fattest  thine." 
But  while  the  words  were  on  his  tongue, 
Forth  came  a  Lion  great  and  strong. 
Down  crouch'd  the  man  of  sheep,  and  said, 
With  shivering  fright  hah8  dead, 
"Alas!  that  man  should  never  be  aware 
Of  what  may  be  the  meaning  of  his  prayer! 

To  catch  the  robber  of  my  flocks, 
O  king  of  gods,  I  pledged  a  calf  to  thee: 
If  from  his  clutches  thou  wilt  rescue  me, 
I'll  raise  my  offering  to  an  ox." 


The  Animals  Sick  of  the  Plague 

THE  sorest  ill  that  Heaven  hath 
Sent  on  this  lower  world  in  wrath  — 
The  Plague  (to  call  it  by  its  name) 

One  single  day  of  which 

Would   Pluto's   ferryman   enrich  — 
Waged  war  on  beasts,  both  wild  and  tame. 
They  died  not  all,  but  all  were  sick: 
No  hunting  now,  by  force  or  trick, 
To  save  what  might  so  soon  expire, 
No  food  excited  their  desire; 
Nor  wolf  nor  fox  now  watch'd  to  slay 
The  innocent  and  tender  prey. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  325 

The    turtles    fled; 

So  love  and  therefore  joy  were  dead. 
The  Lion  council  held,  and  said: 
"My  friends,  I  do  believe 
This  awful  scourge,  for  which  we  grieve, 
Is  for  our  sins  a  punishment 
Most  righteously  by  Heaven  sent. 
Let  us  our  guiltiest  beast  resign, 
A  sacrifice  to  wrath  divine. 
Perhaps   this  offering,  truly  small, 
May  gain  me  life  and  health  of  all. 
By  history  we  find  it  noted 
That  lives  have  been  just  so  devoted. 
Then  let  us  all  turn  eyes  within, 
And  ferret  out  the  hidden  sin. 
Himself  let  no  one  spare  nor  flatter, 
But  make  clean  conscience  in  the  matter. 
For  me,  my  appetite  has  play'd  the  glutton 
Too  much  and  often  upon  mutton. 
What  harm  had  e'er  my  victims  done? 

I  answer,  truly,  None. 
Perhaps,  sometimes,  by  hunger  press'd, 
I've  eat  the  shepherd  with  the  rest. 
I  yield  myself,  if  need  there  be; 
And  yet  I  think,  in  equity, 
Each  should  confess  his  sins  with  me; 
For  laws  of  right  and  justice  cry, 
The  guiltiest  alone  should  die." 


326  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"Sire,"  said  the  Fox,   "your  majesty 
Is  humbler  than  a  king  should  be, 
And  over-squeamish  in  the  case. 

What!  eating  stupid  sheep  a  crime? 

No,  never,  sire,  at  any  time. 
It  rather  was  an  act  of  grace, 
A  mark  of  honour  to  their  race. 
And  as  to  shepherds,  one  may  swear, 

The  fate  your  majesty  describes 
Is  recompense  less  full  than  fair 

For  such  usurpers  o'er  our  tribes." 

Thus  Reynard  glibly  spoke, 
And  loud   applause  from  flatterers  broke. 
Of  neither  tiger,  boar,  nor  bear, 
Did  any  keen  inquirer  dare 
To  ask  for  crimes  of  high  degree; 

The  fighters,  biters,  scratchers,  all 
From  every  mortal  sin  were  free; 

The  very  dogs,  both  great  and  small, 
Were  saints,  as  far  as  dogs  could  be. 

The  Ass,  confessing  in  his  turn, 
Thus  spoke  in  tones  of  deep  concern: 
"I  happen'd  through  a  mead  to  pass; 
The  monks,  its  owners,   were   at   mass; 
Keen  hunger,  leisure,  tender  grass, 
And  add  to  these  the  devil  too, 
All  tempted  me  the  deed  to  do. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  327 

I  browsed  the  bigness  of  my  tongue; 
Since  truth  must  out,  I  own  it  wrong." 

On  this,  a  hue  and  cry  arose, 

As  if  the  beasts  were  all  his   foes: 

A   Wolf,   haranguing  lawyer-wise, 

Denounced  the  Ass  for    sacrifice  — 

The  bald-pate,  scabby,  ragged  lout, 

By  whom  the  plague  had  come,  no  doubt. 

His  fault  was  judged  a  hanging  crime. 

"What?   eat   another's   grass?     O   shame! 
The  noose  of  rope  and  death  sublime, 
For  that  offence,  were  all  too  tame!'* 
And  soon  poor  Grizzle  felt  the  same. 

Thus  human  courts  acquit  the  strong, 
And  doom  the  weak,  as  therefore  wrong. 

The  Fowler,  the  Hawk,  and  the  Lark 

FROM   wrongs   of   wicked   men   we   draw 

Excuses  for  our  own; 
Such   is   the   universal   law. 

Would  you  have   mercy  shown, 

Let  yours  be  clearly  known. 

A  Fowler's  mirror  served  to  snare 
The  little  tenants  of  the  air. 
A  Lark  there  saw  her  pretty  face, 
And   was   approaching   to   the   place. 


328  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

A  Hawk,  that  sailed  on  high, 

Like   vapour   in   the   sky, 
Came   down,   as   still   as   infant's   breath, 
On  her  who  sang  so  near  her  death. 
She   thus   escaped   the   Fowler's   steel, 
The  Hawk's  malignant  claws  to  feel. 

While  in  his  cruel  way, 

The  pirate  plucked  his  prey, 
Upon  himself  the  net  was  sprung.   . 
"O  Fowler,"  prayed  he  in  the  hawkish  tongue, 

"Release  me  in  thy  clemency! 
I  never  did  a  wrong  to  thee. 
The  man  replied,   "Tis  true; 
And  did  the  Lark  to  you?" 

Ph&bus  and  Boreas 

OLD  Boreas  and  the  Sun,  one  day, 
Espied  a  traveller  on  his  way, 
Whose  dress  did  happily  provide 
Against   whatever   might   betide. 
The  time  was  autumn,  when,  indeed, 
All    prudent    travellers    take    heed. 
The   rains   that  then  the   sunshine   dash, 
And  Iris  with  her  splendid  sash, 
Warn  one  who   does  not  like  to  soak 
To  wear  abroad  a  good  thick  coat. 
Our    man    was    therefore    well    bedight 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  3$ 

With    double    mantle,    strong   and    tight. 
"This  fellow,"  said  the  Wind,  "has  meant 
To  guard  from  every  ill  event; 
But  little  does  he  wot  that  I 

Can  blow  him  such  a  blast 

That,   not  a  button  fast, 
His  cloak  shall  cleave   the  sky. 
Come,  here's  a  pleasant  game,  Sir  Sun! 

Wilt  play?"   Said   Phoebus,   "Done! 

We'll  bet  between  us  here 

Which  first  will  take  the  gear 

From  off  this  cavalier. 

Begin,   and   shut   away 

The  brightness  of  my  ray." 
"Enough."     Our  blower,  on  the  bet, 

Swelled  out  his  pursy  form 

With  all  the  stuff  for  storm  — „ 
The  thunder,  hail,  and  drenching  wet, 
And  all  the  fury  he  could  muster; 
Then,  with  a  very  demon's  bluster, 
He   whistled,   whirled,   and   splashed, 
And  down  the  torrents  dashed, 

Full  many  a  roof  uptearing 
He  never  did  before, 

Full  many  a  vessel  bearing 
To  wreck  upon  the  shore  — 

And  all  to  doff  a  single  cloak. 

But  vain  the  furious  stroke; 


330  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  traveller  was  stout, 
And  kept  the  tempest  out, 
Defied  the  hurricane, 
Defied  the  pelting  rain; 
And  as  the  fiercer  roared  the  blast, 
His  cloak  the  tighter  held  he  fast. 
The  Sun  broke  out,  to  win  the  bet; 
He  caused  the  clouds  to  disappear, 
Refreshed  and  warmed  the  cavalier, 
And  through  his  mantle  made  him  sweat, 

Till  off  it  came,  of  course, 
In  less  than  half  an  hour; 
And  yet  the  Sun  saved  half  his  power  — 
So  much  does  mildness  more  than  force. 

The  Stag  and  the  Vine 

A  STAG,  by  favour  of  a  Vine, 

Which  grew  where  suns  most  genial  shine, 

And  formed   a  thick   and   matted   bower 

Which  might  have  turned  a  summer  shower, 

Was    saved    by    ruinous    assault. 

The  hunters  thought  their  dogs  at  fault, 

And  called  them  off.     In  danger  now  no  more 

The  Stag,  a  thankless  wretch  and  vile, 
Began  to  browse  his  benefactress  o'er. 

The  hunters  listening  the  while, 
The  rustling  heard,  came  back, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  331 

With  all  their  yelping  pack, 

And  seized  him  in  that  very  place. 
"This  is,"  said  he,  "but  justice,  in  my  case. 
Let  every  black  ingrate 
Henceforward  profit  by  my  fate." 
The  dogs  fell  to  — 'twere  wasting  breath 
To  pray  those  hunters  at  the  death. 
They  left,  and  we  will  not  revile  'em, 
A  warning  for  profaners  of  asylum. 


The  Peacock  Complaining  to  Juno 

THE  Peacock  to  the  Queen  of  heaven 
Complained  in  some  such  words: 

"Great   goddess,   you   have   given 
To  me,  the  laughing  stock  of  birds, 

A  voice  which  fills,  by  taste  quite  just, 
All  nature  with  disgust; 

Whereas  that  little  paltry  thing, 

The  nightingale,  pours  from  her  throat 
So  sweet  and  ravishing  a  note; 

She  bears  alone  the  honours  of  the  spring." 
In  anger  Juno  heard, 

And  cried,  "Shame  on  you,  jealous  bird! 

Grudge  you  the  nightingale  her  voice, 

Who  in  the  rainbow  neck  rejoice, 

Than  costliest  silks  more  richly  tinted, 

In  charms  of  grace  and  form  unstinted  — 


332  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Who   strut   in   kingly  pride, 

Your  glorious  tail  spread  wide 
With  brilliants  which  in  sheen  do 
Outshine  the  jeweller's  bow  window? 
Is  there  a  bird  beneath  the  blue 
That  has  more  charms  than  you? 
No  animal  in  everything  can  shine. 
By  just  partition  of  our  gifts  divine, 
Each  has  its  full  and  proper  share. 
Among  the  birds  that  cleave  the  air 
The  hawk's  a  swift,  the  eagle  is  a  brave  one, 
For  omens  serves  the  hoarse  old  raven, 
The  rook's  of  coming  ills  the  prophet; 

And  if  there's  any  discontent, 

I've  heard  not  of  it. 
Cease,   then,   your  envious   complaint; 
Or  I,  instead  of  making  up  your  lack, 
Will  take  your  boasted  plumage  from  your 

back." 

The  Eagle  and  the  Beetle 

JOHN  RABBIT,  by  Dame  Eagle  chased, 

Was  making  for  his  hole  in  haste, 

When,  on  his  way,  he  met  a  Beetle's  burrow. 

I  leave  you  all  to  think 

If  such  a  little  chink 
Could  to  a  rabbit  give  protection  thorough. 

But,  since  no  better  could  be  got, 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  333 

John  Rabbit,  there  was  fain  to  squat. 

Of  course,  in  an  asylum  so  absurd, 

John  felt  ere  long  the  talons  of  the  bird. 

But  first  the  Beetle,  interceding,  cried, 

"Great  queen  of  birds,  it  cannot  be  denied 
That,  maugre  my  protection,  you  can  bear 
My  trembling  guest,  John  Rabbit,  through  the 
air, 

But  do  not  give  me  such  affront,  I  pray; 
And  since  he  craves  your  grace, 
In  pity  of  his  case, 

Grant  him  his  life,  or  take  us  both  away; 
For  he's  my  gossip,  friend  and  neighbour." 
In  vain  the  Beetle's  friendly  labour; 
The  Eagle  clutched  her  prey  without  reply, 
And  as  she  flapped  her  vasty  wings  to  fly, 

Struck  down  our  orator  and  stilled  him  — 

The  wonder  is  she  hadn't  killed  him. 
The  Beetle  soon,  of  sweet  revenge  in  quest 

Flew  to  the  old,  gnarled  mountain  oak, 
Which  proudly  bore  that  haughty  Eagle's  nest. 
And  while  the  bird  was  gone, 

Her  eggs,  her  cherished  eggs,  he  broke, 

Not  sparing  one. 

Returning  from  her  flight,  the  Eagle's  cry 
Of  rage  and  bitter  anguish  filled  the  sky. 

But,  by  excess  of  passion  blind, 

Her  enemy  she  failed  to  find. 


334  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Her  wrath  in  vain,  that  year  it  was  her  fate 
To  live  a  mourning  mother,  desolate. 
The  next,  she  built  a  loftier  nest;  'twas  vain; 
The  Beetle  found  and  dashed  her  eggs  again. 

John  Rabbit's  death  was  thus  avenged  anew. 
The  second  mourning  for  her  murdered  brood 
Was  such  that  through  the  giant  mountain  wood, 
For  six  long  months,  the  sleepless  echo  flew. 
The  bird,  once  Ganymede,  now  made 
Her  prayer  to  Jupiter  for  aid; 
And,  laying  them  within  his  godship's  lap, 
She  thought  her  eggs  now  safe  from  all  mishap; 
The  god  his  own  could  not  but  make  them  — 
No  wretch  would  venture  there  to  break  them. 
And  no  one  did.     Their  enemy,  this  time, 
Upsoaring  to  a  place  sublime, 
Let  fall  upon  his  royal  robes  some  dirt, 
Which  Jove  just  shaking,  with  a  sudden  flirt, 
TJirew  out  the  eggs,  no  one  knowrs  whither. 
WThen  Jupiter  informed  her  how  th'  event 
Occurred  by  purest  accident, 
The  Eagle  raved;  there  was  no  reasoning  with  her; 
She  gave  out  threats  of  leaving  court, 
To  make  the  desert  her  resort, 
And  other  brav'ries  of  this  sort. 
Poor  Jupiter  in  silence  heard 
The  uproar  of  his  favourite  bird. 


FABLES  OF  LA  FONTAINE  335 

Before  his  throne  the  Beetle  now  appeared, 

And  by  a  clear  complaint  the  mystery  cleared. 

The  god  pronounced  the  Eagle  in  the  wrong. 

But  still,  their  hatred  was  so  old  and  strong, 
These  enemies  could  not  be  reconciled; 
And ,  that  the  general  peace  might  not  be  spoiled — 
The  best  that  he  could  do  —  the  god  arranged 
That    thence    the    Eagle's    pairing    should    be 

changed, 

To  come  when  Beetle  folks  are  only  found 
Concealed  and  dormant  under  ground. 


FABLES  FROM  THE  SPANISH 

OF 

CARLOS  YRIARTE* 

"As  the  impressions  made  upon  a  new  vessel 
are  not  easily  to  be  effaced.,  so  here  youth  are  taught 
prudence  through  the  allurement  of  fable." 


translated  by  Richard  Andrews 


FABLES  FROM  THE   SPANISH 

The  Bee  and  the  Cuckoo 

A  CUCKOO,  near  a  hive,  one  day, 
Was  chaunting  in  his  usual  way, 
When  to  the  door  the  Queen-bee  ran, 
And,  humming  angrily,  began: 
"  Do  cease  that  tuneless  song  I  hear  — 
How  can  we  work  while  thou  art  near? 
There  is  no  other  bird,  I  vow, 
Half  so  fantastical  as  thou, 
Since  all  that  ugly  voice  can  do, 
Is  to  sing  on  —  'Cuckoo!  cuckoo'!" 

"If  my  monotony  of  song 
Displeases  you,  shall  I  be  wrong," 
The  Cuckoo  answered,  "if  I  find 
Your  comb  has  little  to  my  mind? 
Look  at  the  cells  —  through  every  one 
Does  not  unvaried  sameness  run? 
Then  if  in  me  there's  nothing  new, 
Dear  knows,  all's  old  enough  in  you." 
The   Bee   replied:  "Hear   me,   my   friend, 
In  works  that  have  a  useful  end 


340  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

It  is  not  always  worth  the  while 
To  seek  variety  in  style, 
But  if  those  works  whose  only  views 
Are  to  give  pleasure  and  amuse, 
Want  either  fancy  or  invention, 
They  fail  of  gaining  their  intention." 


The  Rope  Dancer  and  His  Pupil 

A  TIGHT-ROPE  Dancer  who,  they  say, 
Was  a  great  master  in  his  way, 
Was  tutoring  a  Youth  to  spring 
Upon  the  slight  and  yielding  string, 
Who,  though  a  novice  in  the  science, 
Had  in  his  talents  great  reliance, 
And,  as  on  high  his  steps  he  tried, 
Thus  to  his  sage  instructor  cried: 
"This  pole  you  call  the  counterpoise 
My   every    attitude   annoys; 
I  really  cannot  think  it  good 
To  use  this  cumbrous  piece  of  wood 
In  such  a  business  as  ours, 
An  art  requiring  all  our  powers. 
Why  should  I  with  this  burden  couple? 
Am  I  not  active,  strong  and  supple? 
So  —  see  me  try  this  step  without  it, 
I'll  manage  better,  do  not  doubt  it  — 
See,  'tis  not  difficult  at  all," 


FABLES  FROM  THE  SPANISH        341 

He  said,  and  let  the  balance  fall, 
And,   taking  fearlessly   a   bound, 
He  tumbled  headlong  on  the  ground, 
With  compound  fracture  of  the  shin, 
And  six  or  seven  ribs  crushed  in. 

"Unhappy  youth!"  the  Master  said, 
"What  was  your  truest  help  and  aid 
Impediment  you  thought  to  be  — 
For  art  and  method  if  you  flee, 
Believe  me,  ere  your  life  is  past, 
This  tumble  will  not  be  your  last." 


The  Squirrel  and  the  Horse 

A  SQUIRREL,  on  his  hind  legs  raised. 
Upon  a  noble  Charger  gazed, 
Who  docile  to  the  spur  and  rein, 
Went  through  his  menage  on  the  plain; 
Now  seeming  like  the  wind  to  fly, 
Now  gracefully  curvetting  by. 

"Good  Sir,"  the  little  Tumbler  said, 
And  with  much  coolness,  scratched  his  head, 

"In  all  your  swiftness,  skill  and  spirit, 
I  do  not  see  there's  much  of  merit, 
For,  all  you  seem  so  proud  to  do, 
I   can   perform,   and   better  too; 
I'm  light  and  nimble,  brisk  and  sprightly, 


342  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

I  trot,  and  skip,  and  canter  lightly, 
Backward  and  forward  —  here  and  there, 
Now   on   the   earth  —  now   in   the   air  — 
From  bough  to  bough  —  from  hill  to  hill, 
And  never  for  a  moment  still." 
The  Courser  tossed  his  head  on  high; 
And  made  the  Squirrel  this  reply: 
"My  little  nimble   jealous   friend, 
Those  turns  and  tumbles  without  end  — 
That  hither,  thither,  restless  springing  — 
Those  upsand  downs  and  leaps  and  swinging  - 
And  other  feats  more  wondrous  far, 
Pray  tell  me,  of  what  use  they  are? 
But  what  I  do,  this  praise  may  claim  — 
My  master's  service  is  my  aim, 
And  laudably  I  use  for  him 
My  warmth  of  blood  and  strength  of  limb." 

The  Bear,  the  Monkey,  and  the  Pig 

A  BEAR  with  whom  a  Piedmontese 
Had  voyaged  from  the  Polar  seas, 
And  by  whose  strange  unwieldy  gambols 
He  earned  a  living  in  his  rambles, 
One  day,  upon  his  hind  legs  set, 
Began  to  dance  a  minuet. 
At  length,  being  tired,  as  well  he  might, 
Of  standing  such  a  time  upright, 


FABLES  FROM  THE  SPANISH        343 

He  to  a  Monkey  near  advancing, 

Exclaimed :  ' '  What  think  you  of  my  dancing  ? ' ' 
"Really,"  he  said,  "ahem!"  (I'm  sure 

This  Monkey  was  a  connoisseur) 
"To  praise  it,  I'd  indeed  be  glad, 

Only  it  is  so  very  bad!" 
"How!"  said  the  Bear,  not  over  pleased, 
"Surely,  your  judgment  is  diseased, 

Or  else  you  cannot  well  have  seen 

My  elegance  of  step  and  mien; 

Just  look  again,  and  say  what  graces 

You  think  are  wanting  in  my  paces." 
"Indeed,  his  taste  is  quite  amazing," 

Replied  a  Pig  with  rapture  gazing; 
"Bravo!  encore!  well  done!  Sir  Bear, 

By  heaven,  you  trip  as  light  as  air; 

I  vow  that  Paris  never  knew 

A  dancer  half  so  fine  as  you." 

With  some  confusion,  Bruin  heard 
Such  praises  by  a  Pig  conferred; 
He  communed  with  himself  a  while, 
And  muttered  thus,  in  altered  style: 
"I  must  confess  the  Monkey's  blame 
Made  me  feel  doubtful  of  my  fame; 
But  since  the  Pigs  their  praise  concede, 
My  dancing  must  be  bad,  indeed!" 


344  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Mu/,  the  Fan,  and  the  Parssol 

"!T  SOUNDS  presumptuous  and  ill 
To  boast  of  universal  skill, 
But  'tis  a  scarce  less  fault,  I  own, 
To  serve  one  sort  of  use  alone." 
An  idle  Parasol,  one  day, 
Within  a  lady's  chamber  lay, 
And  having  nothing  else  to  do, 
Addressing  his   companions   two, 
Reclining  near,  a  Muff  and  Fan, 
He  thus  insultingly  began, 
Using  a  form  of  dialect, 
In  which,  if  ^Esop  is  correct, 
The  Brass  and  Earthern  Jars,  of  old, 
Conversed  as  down  the  stream  they  rolled. 

"Oh!  sirs,  ye  merit  mighty  praise! 
Yon  Muff  may  do  for  wintry  days, 
A  corner  is  your  lot  in  spring; 
While  you,  Fan,  are  a  useless  thing 
When  cold  succeeds  to  heat;  for  neither 
Can  change  yourself  to  suit  the  weather 
Learn,  if  you're  able  to  possess, 
Like  me  a  double  usefulness, 
From  winter's  rain  I  help  to  shun 
And  guard  in  summer  from  the  sun." 


FABLES  FROM  THE  SPANISH        345 

The  Duck  and  the  Serpent 

A   SELF-CONCEITED   Duck,   one   day, 
Was  waddling  from  her  pond   away: 

"What  other  race  can  boast,"  she  cried, 

"The  many  gifts  to  ours  allied? 
Earth  —  water  —  air  —  are    all    for    us. 
WThen  I  am  tired  of  walking  thus, 
I  fly,  if  so  I  take  the  whim, 
Or  if  it  pleases  me  I  swim." 
A    cunning    Serpent    overheard 
The  boasting  of  the  clumsy  bird, 
And,  with  contempt  and  scorn  inflamed, 
Came    hissing    up,    and    thus    exclaimed: 

"It  strikes  me,  ma'am,  there's  small  occasion 
For  your  just  uttered  proclamation; 
These  gifts  of  yours  shine  rather  dim, 
Since  neither  like  the  trout  you  swim, 
Nor  like  the  deer,  step  swift  and  light, 
Nor  match  the  eagle  in  your  flight." 
They  err  who  think  that  merit  clings 
To  knowledge  slight  of  many  things; 
He  who  his  fellows  would  excel, 
Whate'er  he  does  should  do  it  well. 

The  Tea  and  the  Sage 

THE  Tea  from  China  on  her  way, 
Met  in  some  sea,  or  gulf,  or  bay  —  , 


346  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

(Would  to  her  log  I  might  refer!} 
The  Sage,  who  thus  accosted  her: 
"Sister  — ahoy!  ho  —  whither  bound?" 
"I   leave,"   she   said,    "my   native   ground 
For  Europe's  markets,  where,  I'm  told, 
They  purchase  me  by  weight  of  gold." 
"And   I,"   the   Sage   replied,    "am   seeking 
The  route  to  Canton  or  to  Peking; 
Your  Chinese  use  me  largely  in 
Their  cookery  and  medicine; 
They  know  my  virtues,  nor  deny 
The  praise  I  ask,  however  high, 
While  Europe  scorns  me,  just  indeed, 
As  if  I  was  the  vilest  weed. 
Go;  and  good  luck  t'ye;  know  full  well 
That  you  are  sure  enough  to  sell, 
For  nations  all,   (fools  that  they  are!) 
Value   whatever   comes   from   afar, 
And  give  their  money  nothing  loth, 
For  anything  of  foreign  growth." 


The  Swan  and  the  Linnet 

PIQUED  at  the  Linnet's  song  one  day, 
The  Swan  exclaimed:  "Leave  off!  I  say  — 
Be  still,  you  little  noisy  thing! 
What ! —  dare  you   challenge   me   to   sing, 
When  there's  no  voice,  however  fine, 


FABLES  FROM  THE  SPANISH        347 

Can  match  the  melody  of  mine?" 
(The  Linnet  warbled  on)  —  "D'ye  hear? 
This  impudence  may  cost  you  dear; 
I  could  with  one  harmonious  note 
Forever  stop  your  squeaking  throat, 
And,  if  I  do  not  choose  to  try, 
Respect    my    magnanimity." 
"I  wish,"  at  length  the  Linnet  said, 
"I  wish,  to  heaven,  the  proof  were  made; 
You  cannot  imagine  how  I  long 
To  hear  that  rich  and  flowing  song 
Which  though  so  sweet,  by  fame  averred, 
I  know  not  who  has  ever  heard." 

The  Swan  essayed  to  sing,  but  —  whew! 
She  screeched  and  squalled  a  note  or  two, 
Until  the  Linnet,  it  appears, 
Took  to  her  wings  to  save  her  ears. 
'Tis  strange  when  some  of  learned  fame 
Will  prove  their  title  to  the  name, 
How  often  ill-placed  praise  they  mar, 
And  show  how  ignorant  they  are. 

The  Flint  and  the  Steel 

THE  Flint,  with  language  harsh  and  high, 
Accused  the  Steel  of  cruelty 
In  striking  her  with  all  his  might, 
Whene'er   he   wanted   fire   and   light. 


348  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Steel  the  imputation  spurned, 
And  with  such  warmth  the  contest  burned 
That  both,  at  last,  agreed  to  slip 
Their  contract  of  companionship. 

"Good-by  then,   madame,"   said  the  one; 

"And  since  my  company  you  shun, 
And  to  continue  with  me,  doubt, 
We'll  see  what  use  you  are  without." 

"About  as  much  as  you   will  be, 
Good  sir,"  she  answered,   "without  me.: 


FABLES  OF  GAY,  COWPER,  AND 
OTHERS 

Brutes  are  my  theme.     Am  I  to  blame 

If  men  in  morals  are  the  same? 
I  no  man  call  or  ape  or  ass; 

'Tis  his  own  conscience  holds  the  glass. 
Thus  void  of  all  offence  I  write; 

Who  claims  the  fable,  knows  his  right." 

JOHN  GAY 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER 

The  Monkey  Who  Had  Seen  the  World 

A   MONKEY,  to  reform  the  times, 
Resolved   to  visit  foreign  climes; 
For  men  in  distant  regions  roam, 
To  bring  politer  manners  home. 
So  forth  he  fares,  all  toil  defies; 
Misfortune  serves  to  make  us  wise. 

At  length  the  treacherous  snare  was  laid; 
Poor  Pug  was  caught,  to  town  conveyed; 
There  sold.     How  envied  was  his  doom, 
Made  captive  in  a  lady's  room! 
Proud  as  a  lover  of  his  chains, 
He  day  by  day  her  favour  gains. 
Whene'er  the  duty  of  the  day 
The  toilette  calls,  with  mimic  play 
He  twirls  her  knot,  he  cracks  her  fan, 
Like  any  other  gentleman. 
In  visits,  too,  his  parts  and  wit, 
When  jests  grew  dull,  were  sure  to  hit. 
Proud  with  applause,  he  thought  his  mind 
In   every   courtly   art   refined; 
Like  Orpheus,  burned  with  public  zeai 

351 


352  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

To  civilize  the  monkey  weal: 

So  watched  occasion,  broke  his  chain, 

And  sought  his  native  woods  again. 

The  hairy  sylvans  round  him  press 
Astonished  at  his  strut  and  dress. 
Some  praise  his  sleeve,  and  others  gloat 
Upon  his  rich  embroidered  coat; 
His  dapper  periwig  commending, 
With  the  black  tail  behind  depending; 
His  powdered  back    above,  below, 
Like  hoary  frost  or  fleecy  snow: 
But  all,  with  envy  and  desire, 
His  flutt'ring  shoulder-knot  admire. 

"Hear  and  improve,"  he  pertly  cries, 
"I  come  to  make  a  nation  wise. 
Weigh  your  own  worth,  support  your  place, 
The  next  in  rank  to  human  race. 
In  cities  long  I  passed  my  days, 
Conversed  with  men,  and  learned  their  ways. 
Their  dress,  their  courtly  manners  see; 
Reform  your  state,  and  copy  me. 
Seek  ye  to  thrive?  in  flatt'ry  deal; 
Your  scorn,  your  hate,  with  that  conceal. 
Seem  only  to  regard  your  friends, 
But  use  them  for  your  private  ends. 
Stint  not  to  truth  the  flow  of  wit; 
Be  prompt  to  lie  whene'er  'tis  fit. 
Bend  all  your  force  to  spatter  merit; 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER  3  353 

Scandal  is  conversation's  spirit. 
Boldly  to  everything  pretend, 
And  men  your  talents  shall  commend. 
I  know  the  Great.     Observe  me  right, 
So  shall  you  grow  like  man  polite." 

He  spoke  and  bowed.     With  mutt'ring  jaws 
The  wond'ring   circle   grinned   applause. 
Now,  warmed  with  malice,  envy,  spite, 
Their  most  obliging  friends  they  bite; 
And,  fond  to  copy  human  ways, 
Practise  new  mischiefs  all  their  days. 

Thus  the  dull  lad,  too  tall  for  school. 
With  travel  finishes  the  fool: 
Studious  of  every  coxcomb's  airs, 
He  gambles,  dresses,  drinks,  and  swears; 
O'er  looks  with  scorn  all  virtuous  arts, 
For  vice  is  fitted  to  his  parts. 

JOHN  GAY 

The  Shepherd's  Dog  and  the  Wolf 

A  WOLF,  with  hunger  fierce  and  bold, 

Ravag'd  the  plains,  and  thinn'd  the  fold: 
Deep  in  the  wood  secure  he  lay, 
The  thefts  of  night  regal'd  the  day. 
In  vain  the  shepherd's  wakeful  care 
Had  spread  the  toils,  and  watch'd  the  snare: 
In  vain  the  Dog  pursu'd  his  pace, 
The  fleeter  robber  mock'd  the  chase. 


354  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

As  Lightfoot  rang'd  the  forest  round, 
By  chance  his  foe's  retreat  he  found. 
"Let  us  a  while  the  war  suspend, 
And  reason  as  from  friend  to  friend." 

"A  truce?"  replies  the  Wok".     "'Tis  done." 
The  Dog  the  parley  thus  begun. 

"How  can  that  strong  intrepid  mind 
Attack  a  weak  defenceless  kind? 
Those  jaws  should  prey  on  nobler  food, 
And  drink  the  boar's  and  lion's  blood, 
Great  souls  with  generous  pity  melt, 
Which  coward  tyrants  never  felt. 
How  harmless  is  our  fleecy  care! 
Be  brave,  and  let  thy  mercy  spare.' 

"Friend,"  says  the  Wolf,  "the  matter  weigh; 
Nature  design'd  us  beasts  of  prey; 
As  such,  when  hunger  finds  a  treat, 
'Tis  necessary  Wolves  should  eat. 
If  mindful  of  the  bleating  weal, 
Thy  bosom  burn  with  real  zeal, 
Hence,  and  thy  tyrant  lord  beseech; 
To  him  repeat  the  moving  speech: 
A  Wolf  eats  sheep  but  now  and  then; 
Ten  thousands  are  devour'd  by  men. 
An  open  foe  may  prove  a  curse, 
.But  a  pretended  friend  is  worse." 

JOHN  GAT 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER      355 

The  Rat-catcher  and  Cats 

THE  rats  by  night  such  mischief  did, 

Betty  was  ev'ry  morning  chid. 
They  undermin'd  whole  sides  of  bacon, 
Her  cheese  was  sapp'd,  her  tarts  were  taken. 
Her  pasties,  fenc'd  with  thickest  paste, 
Were  all  demolished,  and  laid  waste. 
She  curs'd  the  cat  for  want  of  duty, 
Who  left  her  foes  a  constant  booty. 

An  Engineer,  of  noted  skill, 
Engag'd  to  stop  the  growing  ill. 

From  room  to  room  he  now  surveys 
Their  haunts,  their  works,  their  secret  ways; 
Finds  where  they  'scape  an  ambuscade. 
And  whence  the  nightly  sally's  made. 

An  envious  Cat  from  place  to  place, 
Unseen,  attends  his  silent  pace. 
She  saw,  that  if  his  trade  went  on, 
The  purring  race  must  be  undone; 
So,  secretly  removes  his  baits, 
And   ev'ry   stratagem   defeats. 

Again  he  sets  the  poison'd  toils, 
And  Puss  again  the  labour  foils. 

"What  foe,  to  frustrate  my  designs, 
My   schemes   thus   nightly   countermines?" 
Incens'd,  he  cries:  "This  very  hour 
This  wretch  shall  bleed  beneath  my  power." 


350  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

So  said,  a  pond'rous  trap  he  brought, 
And  in  the  fact  poor  Puss  was  caught. 

"Smuggler,"  says  he,  "thou  shalt  be  made 
A  victim  to  our  loss  of  trade." 

The  captive  Cat,  with  piteous  mews, 
For  pardon,  life,  and  freedom  sues. 
"A  sister  of  the  science  spare; 
One  int'rest  is  our  common  care." 

"What  insolence!"  the  man  replies; 
"Shall  Cats  with  us  the  game  divide? 
Were  all  your  interloping  band 
Extinguish'd,  or  expell'd  the  land, 
We  Rat-catchers  might  raise  our  fees. 
Sole  guardians  of  a  nation's  cheese!" 

A  Cat,  who  saw  the  lifted  knife, 
Thus  spoke  and  sav'd  her  sister's  life. 

"In  ev'ry  age  and  clime  we  see 
Two  of  a  trade  can  ne'er  agree. 
Each  hates  his  neighbour  for  encroaching; 
'Squire  stigmatizes  'squire  for  poaching; 
Beauties  with  beauties  are  in  arms. 
And  scandal  pelts  each  other's  charms; 
Kings  too  their  neighbour  kings  dethrone, 
In  hope  to  make  the  world  their  own. 
But  let  us  limit  our  desires; 
Not  war  like  beauties,  kings,  and  'squires! 
For  though  we  both  one  prey  pursue, 
There's  game  enough  for  us  and  you." 

JOHN  GAT 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER      357 

The  Farmer's  Wife  and  the  Raven 

BETWEEN   her   swaggering   pannier's   load 

A  Farmer's  Wife  to  market  rode, 

And  jogging  on,  with  thoughtful  care, 

Summed  up  the  profits  of  her  ware; 

When,  starting  from  her  silver  dream, 

Thus  far  and  wide  was  heard  her  scream: 

"That  Raven  on  yon  left-hand  oak 

(Curse  on  his  ill-betiding  croak) 

Bodes  me  no  good."     No  more  she  said, 

When  poor  blind  Ball,  with  stumbling  head, 

Fell  prone;  o'erturned  the  panniers  lay, 

And  her  mashed  eggs  bestrewed  the  way. 

She,  sprawling  on  the  yellow  road, 

Railed,  cursed,  and  swore :   "  Thou  croaking  toad, 

A  murrain  take  thy  noisy  throat! 

I  knew  misfortune  in  the  note." 

"Dame,"  quoth  the  Raven,  "spare  your  oaths, 

Unclench  your  fist  and  wipe  your  clothes. 

But  why  on  me  those  curses  thrown? 

Goody,  the  fault  was  all  your  own; 

For  had  you  laid  this  brittle  ware 

On  Dun,  the  old  sure-footed  mare, 

Though  all  the  Ravens  of  the  hundred 

With  croaking  had  your  tongue  out-thundered, 

Sure-footed  Dun  had  kept  her  legs, 

And  you,  good  woman,  saved  your  eggs." 

JOHN  GAY 


358  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

The  Council  of  Horses 

UPON  a  time,  a  neighing  steed, 
Who  grazed  among  a  numerous  breed, 
With  mutiny  had  fired  the  train, 
And  spread  dissension  through  the  plain. 
On  matters  that  concerned  the  state 
The  Council  met  in  grand  debate. 
A  Colt,  whose  eyeballs  flamed  with  ire, 
Elate  with  strength  and  youthful  fire, 
In  haste  stepped  forth  before  the  rest, 
And  thus  the  listening  throng  addressed: 

"Good  gods!  how  abject  is  our  race, 
Condemned  to  slavery  and  disgrace! 
Shall  we  our  servitude  retain 
Because  our  sires  have  borne  the  chain? 
Consider,  friends,  your  strength  and  might; 
'Tis  conquest  to  assert  your  right. 
How  curnb'rous  is  the  gilded  coach! 
The  pride  of  man  is  our  reproach. 
Were  we  designed  for  daily  toil; 
To  drag  the  ploughshare  through  the  soil; 
To  sweat  in  harness  through  the  road; 
To  groan  beneath  the  carrier's  load? 
How    feeble    are    the    two-legged    kind! 
What  force   is   in   our  nerves   combined! 
Shall,   then,   our  nobler  jaws   submit 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER      359 

To  foam,  and  champ  the  galling  bit? 
Shall  haughty  man  my  back  bestride? 
Shall  the  sharp  spur  provoke  my  side? 
Forbid  it,  heavens!     Reject  the  rein; 
Your  shame,  your  infamy,  disdain. 
Let  him  the  lion  first  control, 
And  still  the  tiger's  famished  growl; 
Let  us,  like  them,  our  freedom  claim, 
And  make  him  tremble  at  our  name." 

A  general  nod  approved  the  cause, 
And    all    the    circle    neighed    applause, 
When,  lo!  with  grave  and  solemn  face, 
A  Steed  advanced  before  the  race, 
With  age  and  long  experience  wise; 
Around  he  cast  his  thoughtful  eyes, 
And  to  the  murmurs  of  the  train 
Thus  spoke  the  Nestor  of  the  plain: 

"When  I  had  health  and  strength  like  you, 
The  toils  of  servitude  I  knew; 
Now  grateful  man  rewards  my  pains, 
And  gives  me  all  these  wide  domains. 
At  will  I  crop  the  year's  increase; 
My  latter  life  is  rest  and  peace. 
I  grant,  to  man  we  lend  our  pains, 
And  aid  him  to  correct  the  plains; 
But  doth  he  not  divide  the  care 
Through  all  the  labours  of  the  year? 


360  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

How  many  thousand  structures  rise 
To  fence  us  from  inclement  skies! 
For  us  he  bears  the  sultry  day, 
And  stores  up  all  our  winter's  hay: 
He  sows,  he  reaps  the  harvest's  gain, 
We  share  the  toil  and  share  the  grain. 
Since  every  creature  was  decreed 
To  aid  each  other's  mutual  need, 
Appease    your    discontented    mind, 
And  act  the  part  by  Heaven  assigned." 

The  tumult  ceased.     The  colt  submitted, 
And,  like  his  ancestors,  was  bitted. 

JOHN  GAY 

The  Hare  and  Many  Friends 

FRIENDSHIP,  like  love,  is  but  a  name, 
Unless  to  one  you  stint  the  flame; 
The  child  whom  many  fathers  share 
Hath  seldom  known  a  father's  care. 
'Tis  thus  in  friendships;  who  depend 
On  many,  rarely  find  a  friend. 

A  Hare,  who  in  a  civil  way 
Complied  with  everything,  like  Gay, 
Was  known  by  all  the  bestial  train 
Who  haunt  the  wood  or  graze  the  plain; 
Her  care  was  never  to  offend, 
And  every  creature  was  her  friend. 

As  forth  she  went  at  early  dawn, 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER      361 

To  taste  the  dew-besprinkled  lawn, 
Behind  she  hears  the  hunter's  cries, 
And  from  the  deep-mouthed  thunder  flies. 
She  starts,  she  stops,  she  pants  for  breath; 
She  hears  the  near  advance  of  death; 
[She  doubles  to  mislead  the  Hound, 
]  And  measures  back  her  mazy  round, 
Till,  fainting  in  the  public  way, 

Half  dead  with  fear  she  gasping  lay. 

What  transport  in  her  bosom  grew 
When  first  the  Horse  appeared  in  view! 

"Let  me,"  says  she,  "your  back  ascend. 
And  owe  my  safety  to  a  friend. 
You  know  my  feet  betray  my  flight; 
To  friendship  every  burden's  light," 
The  Horse  replied,  "Poor  honest  Puss, 
It  grieves  my  heart  to  see  you  thus: 
Be  comforted,  relief  is  near, 
For  all  your  friends  are  in  the  rear." 

She  next  the  stately  Bull  implored; 
And  thus  replied  the  mighty  lord: 

"Since  every  beast  alive  can  tell 
That  I  sincerely  wish  you  well, 
I  may  without  offence  pretend 
To  take  the  freedom  of  a  friend. 
Love  calls  me  hence;  a  fav'rite  Cow 
Expects  me  near  the  barley-mow, 
And  when  a  lady's  in  the  case 


362  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

You  know  all  other  things  give  place. 
To  leave  you  thus  might  seem  unkind; 
But  see,  the  Goat  is  just  behind." 

The  Goat  remarked  her  pulse  was  high, 
Her  languid  head,  her  heavy  eye. 

"My  back,"  says  she,  "may  do  you  harm. 
The  Sheep's  at  hand,  and  wool  is  warm." 

The  Sheep  was  feeble,  and  complained 
His  sides  a  load  of  wool  sustained: 
Said  he  was  slow,  confessed  his  fears; 
For  Hounds  eat  Sheep  as  well  as  Hares. 

She  now  the  trotting  Calf  addressed 
To  save  from  death  a  friend  distressed. 

"Shall  I,"  says  he,  "of  tender  age, 
In  this  important  care  engage? 
Older  and  abler  passed  you  by  — 
How  strong  are  those;  how  weak  am  I! 
Should  I  presume  to  bear  you  hence, 
Those  friends  of  mine  may  take  offence; 
Excuse  me,  then;  you  know  my  heart, 
But  dearest  friends,  alas!  must  part. 
How  shall  we  all  lament!     Adieu! 
For  see,  the  Hounds  are  just  in  view." 

JOHN  GAY 

The  Nightingale  and  the  Glowworm 

A  NIGHTINGALE,  that  all  day  long 
Had  cheered  the  village  with  his  song, 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER      363 

Nor  had  at  eve  his  note  suspended, 
Nor  yet  when  eventide  was  ended 
Began  to  feel,  as  well  he  might, 
The  keen  demands  of  appetite; 
When,  looking  eagerly  around, 
He  spied  far  off,  upon  the  ground, 
A  something  shining  in  the  dark, 
And  knew  the  Glowworm  by  his  spark; 
So  stepping  down  from  hawthorn  top, 
He  thought  to  put  him  in  his  crop. 
The  Worm,  aware  of  his  intent, 
Harangued  him  thus,  right  eloquent: 

"Did  you  admire  my  lamp,"  quoth  he, 
"As  much  as  I  your  minstrelsy, 
You  would  abhor  to  do  me  wrong, 
As  much  as  I  to  spoil  your  song; 
For,  'twas  the  self-same  Power  Divine 
Taught  you  to  sing  and  me  to  shine; 
That  you  with  music,  I  with  light, 
Might  beautify  and  cheer  the  night." 
The   Songster   heard   his   short   oration, 
And  warbling  out  his  approbation, 
Released  him,  as  my  story  tells, 
And  found  a  supper  somewhere  else. 

Hence,  jarring  sectaries  may  learn 
Their  real  interest  to   discern, 
That  brother  should  not  war  with  brother, 
And  worry  and  devour  each  other; 


364  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

But  sing  and  shine  by  sweet  consent, 
Until  life's  poor  transient  night  is  spent* 
Respecting  in  each  other's  case. 
The  gifts  of  Nature  and  of  Grace. 

Those  Christians  best  deserve  the  name 
Who  studiously  make  peace  their  aim; 
Peace  both  the  duty  and  the  prize 
Of  him  that  creeps  and  him  that  flies. 

WILLIAM  COWPER 


The  Raven 

A  RAVEN,  while  with  glossy  breast 
Her  new-laid  eggs   she  fondly  pressed, 
And  on  her  wickerwork  high  mounted, 
Her    chickens    prematurely    counted, 
(A    fault    philosophers    might    blame 
If  quite  exempted  from  the  same), 
Enjoyed  at  ease  the  genial  day; 
'Twas  April,  as  the  bumpkins  say; 
The  legislature  called  it  May. 
But  suddenly  a  wind,  as  high 
'As   ever   swept   a   winter   sky, 
Shook  the  young  leaves  about  her  ears 
And  filled  her  with  a  thousand  fears, 
Lest  the  rude  blast  should  snap  the  bough, 
And  spread  her  golden  hopes  below. 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER      365 

But  just  at  eve  the  blowing  weather 

Changed,  and  her  fears  were  hushed  together: 

"And  now,"   quoth  poor  unthinking  Ralph,1 

"Tis  over,  and  the  brood  is  safe." 

(For  Ravens,  though,  as  birds  of  omen, 

They  teach  both  conjurers  and  old  women 

To  tell  us  what  is  to  befall, 

Can't  prophesy  themselves  at  all.) 

The  morning  came,  when  Neighbour  Hodge, 

Who  long  had  marked  her  airy  lodge, 

And  destined  all  the  treasure  there 

A  gift  to  his  expecting  fair, 

Climbed,  like  a  squirrel  to  his  dray, 

And  bore  the  worthless  prize  away. 

Moral 

'Tis   Providence   alone   secures, 
In  every  change,  both  mine  and  yours: 
Safety   consists   not   in   escape 
From  dangers  of  a  frightful  shape; 
An  earthquake  may  be  bid  to  spare 
The  man  that's  strangled  by  a  hair. 
Fate  steals  along  with  silent  tread 
Found  oftenest  in  what  least  we  dread, 
Frowns  in  the  storm  with  angry  brow, 
But  in  the  sunshine  strikes  the  blow. 

WILLIAM  COWPER 

1  Pronounced  Rafe. 


366  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 


Pairing  Time  Anticipated 

I  SHALL  not  ask  Jean  Jacques  Rousseau 

If   birds   confabulate   or   no; 

'Tis  clear  that  they  were  always  able 

To  hold  discourse,  at  least  in  fable; 

And  e'en  the  child  who  knows  no  better 

Than  to  interpret  by  the  letter 

A  story  of  a  cock  and  bull 

Must  have  a  most  uncommon  skull. 

It  chanced  then  on  a  winter  day, 

But  warm  and  bright  and  calm  as  May, 

The  Birds  conceiving  a  design 

To  forestall  sweet  Saint  Valentine, 

In  many  an  orchard,  copse  and  grove, 

Assembled    on    affairs    of    love, 

And  with  much  twitter,  and  much  chatter, 

Began   to   agitate   the   matter. 

At  length  a  Bullfinch,  who  could  boast 

More  years  and  wisdom  than  the  most, 

Entreated,   opening  wide  his  beak, 

A  moment's   liberty  to   speak; 

And  silence  publicly  enjoined, 

Delivered,    briefly,    thus    his    mind  — 

"My  friends!     Be  cautious  how  ye  treat 

The  subject  upon  wrhich  we  meet; 

I  fear  we  shall  have  winter  yet." 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER      367 

A  Finch,  whose  tongue  knew  no  control, 

With   golden  wing  and  satin  poll, 

A  last  year's  bird  who  ne'er  had  tried 

What  marriage  means,  thus  pert  replied: 

"Methinks  the  gentleman,"  quoth  she, 

"Opposite  in  the   appletree, 

By  his  good  will  would  keep  us  single, 

Until  yonder  heavens  and  earth  shall  mingle, 

Or    (which   is   likelier   to   befall) 

Until    death    exterminate    us    all. 

I  marry  without  more  ado, 

My  dear  Dick  Redcap;  what  say  you?" 

Dick   heard,    and   tweedling,   ogling,   bridling, 

With  many  a  strut  and  many  a  sidling, 

Attested,    glad,    his    approbation 

Of  an  immediate  conjugation. 

Their  sentiments  so  well  expressed 

Influenced    mightily    the    rest; 

All  paired,  and  each  pair  built  a  nest. 

But  though  the  birds  were  thus  in  haste, 
The  leaves  came  on  not  quite  so  fast, 
And   Destiny,   that   sometimes   bears 
An   aspect  stern  on  man's   affairs, 
Not    altogether    smiled    on    theirs. 
The  wind,  of  late  breathed  gently  forth, 
Now  shifted  east  and  east  by  north; 


368  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Bare  trees  and  shrubs  but  ill,  you  know, 
Could  shelter  them  from  rain  or  snow; 
Stepping  into  their  nests,   they  paddled, 
Themselves  were  chilled,  their  eggs  were  addled, 
Soon    every    father-bird    and    mother 
Grew  quarrelsome  and  pecked  each  other, 
Parted  without  the  least  regret, 
Except  that  they  had  ever  met, 
And  learned  in  future  to  be  wiser 
Than  to  neglect  a  good  adviser. 

WILLIAM  COWPER 


The  Poet,  the  Oyster,  and  Sensitive  Plant 

An  OYSTER  cast  upon  the  shore 
Was  heard,  though  never  heard  before, 
Complaining  in  a  speech  well  worded, 
And  worthy  thus  to  be  recorded: 

"Ah,  hapless  wretch  comdemn'd  to  dwell 
Forever  in  my  native  shell, 
Ordain'd  to  move  when  others  please, 
Not  for  my  own  content  or  ease, 
But   toss'd   and   buffeted    about, 
Now  in  the  water,  and  now  out. 
'Twere  better  to  be  born  a  stone 
Of   ruder   shape   and   feeling   none, 
Than  with   a   tenderness   like  mine, 
And  sensibilities  so  fine! 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER      369 

I   envy   that   unfeeling   shrub, 
Fast   rooted    against   every   rub." 
The  plant  he  meant  grew  not  far  off, 
And  felt  the  sneer  with  scorn  enough; 
Was    hurt,    disgusted,    mortified, 
And    with    asperity    replied. 

("When,"  cry  the  botanists,  and  stare, 
"Did  plants  call'd  Sensitive  grow  there?" 
No  matter  when  —  a  poet's   muse  is 
To  make  them  grow  just  where  she  chooses) : 

"You   shapeless  nothing  in  a   dish, 
You  that  are  but  almost  a  fish, 
I  scorn  your  coarse  insinuation, 
And   have   most  plentiful   occasion 
To  wish  myself  the  rock  I  view, 
Or  such  another  dolt  as  you. 
For  many  a  grave  and  learned  clerk, 
And    many    a    gay    unletter'd    spark, 
With   curious   touch   examines   me 
If  I  can  feel  as  well  as  he; 
And  when  I  bend,  retire,  and  shrink, 
Says,  'Well —  'tis  more  than  one  would  think.' 
Thus  life  is  spent!  oh  fie  upon't, 
In    being    touch'd,    and    crying  —  'Don't'!" 
;A  poet,  in  his  evening  walk, 
;O'erheard    and    check'd    this    idle    talk. 
"And  your  fine  sense,"  he  said,  "and  yours, 
Whatever  evil  it  endures, 


370  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Deserves  not,  if  so  soon  offended, 
Much  to  be  pitied  or  commended. 
Disputes,  though  short,  are  far  too  long, 
Where  both  alike  are  in  the  wrong; 
Your  feelings  in  their  full  amount 
Are  all  upon  your  own  account. 

"  You,   in  your  grotto-work  enclosed, 
Complain    of    being    thus    exposed, 
Yet  nothing  feel  in  that  rough  coat, 
Save  when  the  knife  is  at  your  throat. 
Wherever  driven  by  wind  or  tide, 
Exempt   from   every   ill   beside. 

"And  as  for  you,  my  Lady  Squeamish, 
Who  reckon  every  touch  a  blemish, 
If  all  the  plants  that  can  be  found 
Embellishing    the    scene    around, 
Should  droop  and  wither  where  they  grow, 
You  would  not  feel  at  all,  not  you. 
The  noblest  minds  their  virtue  prove 
By  pity,  sympathy,  and  love: 
These,   these   are   feelings   truly   fine, 
And  prove  their  owner  half  divine." 

His  censure  reach'd  them  as  he  dealt  it. 
And  each  by  shrinking  show'd  he  felt  it. 

WILLIAM  COWPER 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER      371 


The  Pineapple  and  the  Bee 

THE  Pineapples,  in  triple  row, 
Were  basking  hot,  and  all  in  blow. 
A  Bee  of  most  deserving  taste 
Perceived   the   fragrance   as   he   pass'd. 
On  eager  wing  the  spoiler  came, 
And  search'd  for  crannies  in  the  frame, 
Urged  his  attempt  on  every   side, 
To  every  pane  his  trunk  applied; 
But  still  in  vain,  the  frame  was  tight, 
And    only    pervious    to    the    light: 
Thus  having  wasted  half  the  day, 
He  trimm'd  his  flight  another  way. 


Our   dear  delights  are  often   such, 
Exposed  to  view,  but  not  to  touch; 
The  sight  our  foolish  heart  inflames, 
We    long    for    pineapples    in    frames; 
With  hopeless  wish  one  looks  and  lingers; 
One  breaks  the  glass,  and  cuts  his  fingers; 
But  they  whom  Truth  and  Wisdom  lead, 
Can  gather  honey  from  a  weed. 

WILLIAM  COWPER 


372  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

Amelia  and  the  Spider 

THE  muslin  torn,  from  tears  of  grief 
In   vain  Amelia   sought   relief; 
In  sighs  and  plaints  she  passed  the  day, 
The   tattered   frock   neglected   lay: 
While   busied   at  the   weaving  trade, 
A  Spider  heard  the  sighing  maid, 
And  kindly  stopping  in  a  trice, 
Thus    offered    (gratis)    her    advice: 

"Turn,  little  girl,  behold  in  me 
A  stimulus  to  industry; 
Compare  your  woes    my  dear,  with  mine, 
Then  tell  me  who  should  most  repine; 
This  morning,  ere  you'd  left  your  room, 
The    chambermaid's    relentless    broom, 
In   one   sad   moment   that   destroyed 
To  build  which  thousands  were  employed. 
The  shock  was  great,  but  as  my  life 
I  saved  in  the  relentless  strife, 
I  knew  lamenting  was  in  vain, 
So  patient  went  to  work  again; 
By  constant  work  a  day  or  more 
My   little   mansion    did   restore. 
And  if  each  tear  which  you  have  shed 
Had  been  a  needleful  of  thread, 
If  every  sigh  of  sad  despair 
Had  been  a  stitch  of  proper  care, 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER      373 

Closed  would  have  been  the  luckless  rent, 
Nor  thus  the  day  have  been  misspent." 

ANONYMOUS 


The  Goose  and  the  Swans 

A  GOOSE,   affected,  empty,  vain, 
The  shrillest  of  the  cackling  train, 
With  proud   and   elevated   crest, 
Precedence  claimed  above  the  rest. 

Says  she,  "I  laugh  at  human  race, 
Who  say  Geese  hobble  in  then-  pace; 
Look  here  —  the  slander  base  detect; 
Not  haughty  man  is  so  erect. 
That  Peacock  yonder,  see  how  vain 
The  creature's  of  his  gaudy  train. 
If  both  were  stripped,  I'd  pledge  my  word 
A  Goose  would  be  the  finer  bird. 
Nature,  to  hide  her  own  defects, 
Her  bungled  work  with  finery  decks. 
Were  Geese  set  off  with  half  that  show, 
Would  men  admire  the  Peacock?     No!" 

Thus  vaunting,  'cross  the  mead  she  stalks, 
The  cackling  breed   attend   her   walks; 
The  sun  shot  down  his  noontide  beams, 
The  Swans  were  sporting  in  the  streams. 
Their  snowy  plumes  and  stately  pride 
Provoked  her  spleen.     "Why,  there,"  she  cried4 


374  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

"Again,    what    arrogance    we    see! 
Those  creatures,  how  they  mimic  me! 
Shall  every  fowl  the  waters  skim 
Because  we  Geese  are  known  to  swim? 
Humility   they   soon   shall   learn, 
And  their  own  emptiness  discern." 

So  saying,  with  extended  wings, 
Lightly  upon  the  wave  she  springs; 
Her  bosom  swells,  she  spreads  her  plumes, 
And  the  Swan's  stately  crest  assumes. 
Contempt    and    mockery    ensued, 
And  bursts  of  laughter  shook  the  flood. 

A  Swan,  superior  to  the  rest, 
Sprung  forth,  and  thus  the  fool  addressed: 
"Conceited    thing,    elate    with    pride, 
Thy    affectation    all    deride; 
These  airs  thy  awkwardness  impart, 
And  show  thee  plainly  as  thou  art. 
Among  thy  equals  of  the  flock, 
Thou  hadst  escaped  the  public  mock; 
And,  as  thy  parts  to  good  conduce, 
Been  deemed  an  honest,  hobbling  Goose. 

Learn  hence  to  study  wisdom's  rules; 
Know,  foppery's  the  pride  of  fools; 
And,    striving    nature    to    conceal, 
You  only  her  defects  reveal." 

ANONYMOUS 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER      375 

The  Rats  and  the  Cheese 

IF  BEES  a  government  maintain, 
Why  may  not  Rats,  of  stronger  brain 
And  greater  power,  as  well  be  thought 
By    Machiavellian    axioms    taught? 
And  so  they  are,  for  thus  of  late 
It  happened  in  the  Rats'  free  state. 

Their  prince  (his  subjects  more  to  please) 
Had  got  a  mighty  Cheshire  Cheese, 
In  which  his  ministers  of  state 
Might  live  in  plenty  and  grow  great. 

A  powerful  party  straight  combined, 
And    their   united   forces   joined 
To  bring  their  measures  into  play, 

For  none  so  loyal  were  as  they; 
And  none  such  patriots  to  support 
As  well  the  country  as  the  court. 
No  sooner  were  those  Dons  admitted, 
But   (all  those  wondrous  virtues  quitted) 
They  all  the  speediest  means  devise 
To   raise   themselves    and    families. 

Another   party   well   observing 
These  pampered  were,  while  they  were  starving, 
Their    ministry    brought   in    disgrace, 
Expelled  them  and  supplied  their  place; 
These  on  just  principles  were  known 
The   true   supporters   of   the   throne. 


376  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

And  for  the   subjects'   liberty, 
They'd  (marry,  would  they)  freely  die; 
But  being  well  fixed  in  their  station, 
Regardless  of  their  prince  and  nation, 
Just  like  the  others,  all  their  skill 
Was  how  they  might  their  paunches  fill. 

On  this  a  Rat   not  quite  so  blind 
In  state  intrigues  as  human  kind, 
But  of  more  honour,  thus  replied: 
"Confound  ye  all  on  either  side; 
All    your    contentions    are    but    these, 
Whose  arts  shall  best  secure  the  Cheese." 

ANONYMOUS 

The  Drop  of  Rain 

A   LITTLE  particle  of  rain 

That  from  a  passing  cloud  descended 
Was  heard  thus  idly  to  complain: 

"My  brief  existence  now  is  ended! 
Outcast  alike  of  earth  and  sky, 
Useless  to  live,  unknown  to  die!" 
It  chanced  to  fall  into  the  sea, 

And  there  an  open  shell  received  it; 
And  after  years  how  rich  was  he 

Who  from  its  prison-house  released  it! 
The  drop  of  rain  had  formed  a  gem 
To  deck  a  monarch's  diadem. 

ANONYMOUS 


FABLES  OF  GAY  AND  COWPER      377 

The  Lion  and  the  Echo 

A  LION  bravest  of  the  wood, 
Whose  title  undisputed  stood, 
As  o'er  the  wide  domains  he  prowled, 
And  in  pursuit  of  booty  growled, 
An  Echo  from  a  distant  cave 
Re-growled    articulately    grave. 
His  Majesty,  surprised,  began 
To  think  at  first  it  was  a  man; 
But,  on  reflection  sage,  he  found 
It  was  too  like  a  lion's  sound. 
"Whose  voice  is  that  which  growls  at  mine?" 
His  Highness  asked.     Says  Echo,  "Mine!" 
"Thine,"  says  the  Lion;  "who  art  thou?" 
Echo  as  stem  cried,  "Who  art  thou?" 
"Know  I'm  a  lion,  hear  and  tremble!" 
Replied   the   king.     Cried   Echo,    "Tremble!" 
"Come  forth,"  says  Lion,  "show  thyself!" 
Laconic    Echo    answered,    "Elf!" 
"Elf  dost  thou  call  me,  vile  pretender?" 
Echo   as   loud  replied,    "Pretender?" 
At  this,  as  jealous  of  his  reign, 
He  growled  in  rage  —  she  growled  again. 
Incensed  the  more,  he  chafed  and  foamed, 
And  round  the  spacious  forest  roamed, 
To  find  the  rival  of  his  throne, 
Who  durst  with  him  dispute  the  crown. 


378  THE  TALKING  BEASTS 

A  Fox,  who  listened  all  the  while, 
Addressed   the   monarch   with   a   smile: 
"My  liege,  most  humbly  I  make  bold, 
Though  truth  may  not  be  always  told, 
That  this  same  phantom  that  you  hear, 
That  so  alarms  your  royal  ear, 
Is  not  a  rival  of  your  throne  — 
The  voice  and  fears  are  all  your  own." 

Imaginary    terrors    scare 
A  timorous  soul  with  real  fear! 
Nay,  e'en  the  wise  and  brave  are  cowed 
By  apprehensions  from  the  crowd; 
A  frog  a  lion  may  disarm, 
And  yet  how  causeless  the  alarm! 

ANONYMOUS 


Here   check   we   our   career; 
Long  books  I  greatly  fear; 
I  would  not  quite  exhaust  my  stuff; 
The  flower  of  subjects  is  enough. 

JEAN  DE  LA  FONTAINE 


THE   END 


INDEX  OF  TITLES 


INDEX  OF  TITLES 

PAGE 

Acorn  and  the  Pumpkin,  The.   La  Fontaine  (French)  295 

sEsop  and  His  Fellow  Servants.     ^Esop  (Greek)         .  5 

Amelia  and  the  Spider.    Anonymous  (English)       .  372 

Animals'  Peace  Party,  The.  (Chinese)  .  .  241 
Animals  Sick  of  the  Plague,  The.  La  Fontaine 

(French) 324 

Ant  and  the  Fly,  The.     JSsop  (Greek)    ...  6 

Ass  and  His  Master,  The.    JEsop  (Greek)         .    ,.    .  14 

Ass  and  His  Purchaser,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)     .      .  56 

Ass  and  His  Shadow,  The.     JEsop  (Greek)     .         .  36 

Ass  and  the  Dog,  The.    La  Fontaine  (French)        .  291 

Ass  and  the  Lap-dog,  The.    La  Fontaine  (French)  275 

Ass  Carrying  Relics,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French)  309 

Ass  in  the  Lion's  Skin,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)     .         .  37 

Bat   and   the  Two   Weasels,   The.      La  Fontaine 

(French) 283 

Bear  and  the  Fowls,  The.  ^sop  (Greek)  .  .  61 
Bear,  the  Monkey  and  the  Pig,  The.  Yriarte 

(Spanish) 342 

Bee  and  the  Cuckoo,  The.  Yriarte  (Spanish)  .  339 
Belling  \he  Cat.  jEsop  (Greek)  .  .  .21 
Birds  and  the  Monkeys,  The.  Hitopadesa 

(Sanskrit) ,     .    ,/.  114 

381 


382  INDEX  OF  TITLES 

Blackamoor,   The.     ^Esop    (Greek) 

Blue  Jackal,   The.     Hitopadesa   (Sanskrit)    . 

Boasting  Traveller,  The.     JEsop  (Greek) 

Boy  and  the  Filberts,     The.     JEsop  (Greek)   . 

Boy  and  the  Wolf,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek) 

Boys  and  the  Frogs,  The.     ,-Esop  (Greek) 

Brahmin  and  the  Goat,  The.    Hitopadesa  (Sanskrit) 

Buffoon     and     the     Countryman,     The.       ^Esop 

(Greek) 

Builder  of  Ability  and  the  Builder  of  Haste,  The. 

(African) 

Camel  and  His  Master,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek) 

Camel  and  the  Pig,  The.     Raju  (Indian) 

Cat  and  the  Fox,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French) 

Cat  and  the  Mice,  The.     .Esop  (Greek) 

Cat  and  the  Two  Sparrows,  The.     La  Fontaine 

(French) 

Chameleon,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)  .... 
City  Rat  and  the  Country  Rat,  The.    La  Fontaine 

(French) , 

Cock  and  the  Fox,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French)    '   . 
Cock  and  the  Jewel,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)         . 
Council  of  Horses,  The.     Gay  (English) 
Country  Fellow  and  the  River,  A.     vEsop  (Greek) 
Countryman  and  the  Serpent,  The.     La  Fontaine 

(French) ,         . 

Crab  and  Its  Mother,  The.     yEsop  (Greek)     . 
Crane  and  the  Fool,  The.     Raju  (Indian) 
Crow  and  the  Mussel,  The.     ^sop  (Greek)     . 


INDEX  OF  TITLES  383 

PAGE 

Crow  and  the  Partridge,  The.     Bidpai  (Indian)      .  96 

Crow  and  the  Pitcher,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)     .          .  44 

Cuckoo  and  the  Cock,  The.     Krilof  (Russian)        .  236 

Cuckoo  and  the  Eagle,  The.     Krilof  (Russian)        .  225 

Cuckoo  and  the  Turtle-dove,  The.     Krilof  (Russian)  230 

Dairy  woman  and  the  Pot  of  Milk,  The.     La  Fontaine 

(French) 313 

Deer  and  the    Lion,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)     .          .  29 

Demian's  Fish  Soup.     Krilof  (Russian)         .          .  222 

Despot  and  the  Wag,  The.     Raju  (Indian)     .         .  136 

Discontented  Ass,  The.     zEsop  (Greek)   ...  10 

Dog  and  His  Shadow,  The.     zEsop  (Greek)     .          .  14 

Dog  and  the  Crocodile,  The.     /Esop  (Greek)  .          .  54 

Dog  and  the  Kingship.     (African)         .          .          .  208 

Dog  in  the  Manger,  The.     zEsop  (Greek)         .          .  22 

Dove  and  the  Ant,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French)         .  284 
Drop  of  Rain,  The.     Anonymous  (English)     .          .376 

Duck  and  the  Serpent,  The.     Yriarte  (Spanish)     .  345 

Eagle  and  the  Beetle,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French)   .  332 

Eagle  and  the  Mole,  The.     Krilof  (Russian)         .  233 

Eagle  and  the  Owl,  The.     /Esop  (Greek)         .          .  44 

Eagle  and  the  Owl,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French)     .  303 
Eagle,  the  Jackdaw  and  the  Magpie,  The.     zEsop 

(Greek) 52 

Ears  of  the  Hare,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French)         .  308 
Earthen  Pot  and  the  Iron  Pot,  The.     La  Fontaine 

(French) 305 

Education  of  the  Lion,  The.     Krilof  (Russian)         .  213 
Elephant  and  Frog  (African)         .         .         .         .207 


384  INDEX  OF  TITLES 

PAGE 

Elephant  and  the  Jackal,  The.     Hitopadesa  (San- 
skrit)    108 

Elephant  as  Governor,  The.     Krilof  (Russian)         .  219 

Elephant  Has  a  Bet  with  the  Tiger,  The .     (Malayan)  162 

Elephant  in  Favour,  The.     Krilof  (Russian)         .  227 

Falcon  and  the  Capon,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)   .         .  43 

Farmer  and  His  Dog,  The.     JSsop  (Greek)     .         .  19 

Farmer  and  the  Stork,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)     .          .  30 

Farmers  Wife  and  the  Raven,  The.     Gay  (English)  357 
Father  "Lime-stick"  and  the  Flower-pecker  (Malayan)  153 

Fawn  and  the  Little  Tiger,  The.    Raju  (Indian)     .  130 

Flies  and  the  Honey-pot,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)         .  60 

Flint  and  the  Steel,  The.    Yriarte  (Spanish)         .  347 
Fowler,  the  Hawk,  and  the  Lark,  The.    La  Fontaine 

(French) 327 

Fox  and  the  Countryman,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  20 
Fox  and  the  Crabs,  The.  Raju  (Indian)  .  .  147 
Fox  and  the  Crow,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  -  .  13 
Fox  and  the  Drum,  The.  Bidpai  (Indian)  .  '-  •  .  82 
Fox  and  the  Grapes,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  ;  .  30 
Fox  and  the  Stork,  The.  ^sop  (Greek)  .  .28 
Fox  and  the  Villagers,  The.  Raju  (Indian)  .  132 
Fox  in  the  Well,  The.  ^sop  (Greek)  .  .  .  35 
Fox  in  the  Well,  The.  Raju  (Indian)  .  .  129 
Fox,  the  Monkey,  and  the  Animals,  The.  La  Fon- 
taine (French)  .  - 288 

Fox,  the  Wolf,  and  the  Horse,  The.     La  Fontaine 

(French) 300 

Fox  Without  a  Tail,  The.    ^Esop  (Greek)         .         .18 


INDEX  OF  TITLES  385 

PAGE 

Frog  Who  Wished  to  Be  as  Big  as  an  Ox,  The. 

(Greek] 7 

Frogs  Desiring  a  King,  The.     yEsop  (Greek)     .          .  24 

Geese  and  the  Tortoise,  The.     Bidpai  (Indian)         .  67 

Glowworm  and  the  Daw,  The.     Raju  (Indian)           .  133 

Gnat  and  the  Bull,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)         .          .  28 

Goose  and  the  Swans,  The.     Anonymous  (English)  373 

Goose  with  the  Golden  Eggs,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  24 
Grasshopper  and  the  Ant,  The.  La  Fontaine 

(French) 267 

Greedy  Jackal,   The.     Hitopadesa    (Sanskrit)         .  106 

Hare  and  Many  Friends,  The.  Gay  (English)  .  360 

Hare  and  the  Partridge,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  276 

Hare  and  the  Pig,  The.  Raju  (Indian)  .  .  142 

Hare  and  the  Tortoise,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  31 

Hares  and  the  Frogs,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  15 
Hen  and  the  Cat,  The.  (African)  .  .  .177 
Hen  and  the  Chinese  Mountain  Turtle,  The. 

(Chinese)  ...  ^  ...  249 

Hen  and  the  Fox,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  .  36 

Hercules  and  the  Wagoner.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  .  23 
Hermit,  the  Thief,  and  the  Demon,  The.  Bidpai 

(Indian)        .......  87 

Hornets  and  the  Bees,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  269 

How  Sense  Was  Distributed.  (African)  .  .  194 

Invalid  Lion,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)         ...  16 


386  INDEX  OF  TITLES 

PAGE 

Jackal  and  the  Cat,  The.  Hitopadesa  (Sanskrit)  .  103 
Jackdaw  with  Borrowed  Plumes,  The.  ^Esop 

(Greek) 19 

Jupiter's  Two   Wallets.     ^Esop  (Greek)         .          .  38 

King  and  the  Hawk,  The.     Bidpai  (Indian)         .  89 

King-crow  and  the  Water-snail,  The.     (Malayan)  160 

Kite  and  the  Pigeons,  The.    jEsop  (Greek)     .         .  5 

Lark  and  Her  Young  Ones,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  26 

Leopard  and  the  Other  Animals  (African)  .  .  206 
Lion  and  the  Ass  Hunting,  The.  La  Fontaine 

(French) 280 

Lion  and  the  Echo,  The.  Anonymous  (English)  .  377 

Lion  and  the  Gadfly,  The.  Raju  (Indian)  .  .  134 

Lion  and  the  Gnat,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  .  310 

Lion  and  the  Goat,  The.  Raju  (Indian)  .  .  138 

Lion  and  the  Mosquitoes,  The.  (Chinese)  .  .  259 

Lion  and  the  Mouse,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  .  11 

Lion  and  the  Rabbit,  The.  Hitopadesa  (Sanskrit)  112 

Lion  and  the  Wild  Dog,  The.  (African)  .  .  190 

Lion  Going  to  War,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  .  274 
Lion,  the  Bear,  the  Monkey,  and  the  Fox,  The. 

.Esop  (Greek)        .         .         .         .         .         .48 

Lion,  the  Fox,  and  the  Story-teller,  The.  Raju 

(Indian) .127 

Lion,  the  Mouse,  and  the  Cat,  The.  Hitopadesa 

(Sanskrit) 110 

lion's  Share,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  .  .  271 

Lioness  and  the  Bear,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  317 


INDEX  OF  TITLES  38T 

PAGE 

Man  and  His  Piece  of  Cloth,  The.  Raju  (Indian)  140 

Man  and  the  Lion,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  .  9 

Man  and  Turtle  (African)  .  ...  202 
Man  of  Luck,  and  the  Man  of  Pluck,  The.  Raju 

(Indian} 146 

Matter  of  Arbitration,  A.  Msop  (Greek)  .  .  54 

Monkey  and  the  Cat,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  315 
Monkey  and  the  Leopard,  The.  La  Fontaine 

(French) 293 

Monkey  Who  Had  Seen  the  World,  The.  Gay 

(English) 351 

Mouse  and  the  Frog,  The.  Bidpai  (Indian)  .  .  92 
Mouse  Who  Became  a  Tiger,  The.  Hitopadesa 

(Sanskrit) 120 

Mouse-deer's  Shipwreck,  The.  (Malayan)  .  .  154 
Muff,  the  Fan,  and  the  Parasol,  The.  Yriarte 

(Spanish) 344 

Mule  and  the  Lion,  The.  (Chinese)  .  .  .256 
Mule,  Jackal  and  Lion.  (Moorish)  .  .  .173 


Nianga  Dia  Ngenga  and  Leopard.     (African)         .  204 
Nightingale    and    the    Glowworm,    The.     Cowper 

(English) 362 

Oak  and  the  Reed,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French)     .  281 

Old  Man  and  His  Sons,  The.     ^sop  (Greek)         .  23 

Old  Man  and  the  Ass,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French)  273 

Old  Man,  His  Son,  and  the  Ass,  The.    ^sop  (Greek)  47 

Old  Woman  and  Her  Maids,  The.     ^sop  (Greek)   .  22 

Old  Woman  and  the  Doctor,  The.     ^Ssop  (Greek)    .  32 

Old  Woman's  Cat,  The.     Bidpai  (Indian)     .          .  73 


388  INDEX  OF  TITLES 

PAGE 

Pairing  Time  Anticipated.  Cowper  (English)  .  366 

Passenger  and  the  Pilot,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  53 

Peacock  and  the  Fox,  The.  Raju  (Indian)  .  .  143 
Peacock  Complaining  to  Juno,  The.  La  Fontaine 

(French) 331 

Peasant  and  the  Horse,  The.  Krilof  (Russian)  .  231 

Peasant  and  the  Robber,  The.  Krilof  (Russian)  .  237 

Peasant  and  the  Sheep,  The.  Krilof  (Russian)  .  226 

Pebble  and  the  Diamond,  The.  Krilof  (Russian)  216 

Phoebus  and  Boreas.  La  Fontaine  (French)  .  .  328 
Pike,  The.  Krilof  (Russian)  .  .  •  '.  .224 

Pike  and  the  Cat,  The.  Krilof  (Russian)  .  .  217 

Pineapple  and  the  Bee,  The.  Cowper  (English)  371 

Playful  Ass,  The.  yEsop  (Greek)  ...  58 
Ploughman  and  His  Sons,  The.  La  Fontaine 

(French) 299 

Poet,  the  Oyster,  and  Sensitive  Plant,  The.  Cowper 

(English) .  .  368 

Poor  Woman  and  the  Bell,  The.  Hitopadesa 

(Sanskrit) ,  .111 

Porcupine  and  the  Snakes,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  25 

Power  of  Fables,  The.  ^sop  (Greek)  .  .  .  3 
Proud  Chicken,  The.  (Chinese)  .  .  .  .245 

Proud  Fox  and  the  Crab,  The.  (Chinese)  .  .  254 

Quartette,  The.     Krilof  (Russian)          .         .         .  220 

Rabbits    and    the    Elephants,    The.    Hitopadesa 

(Sanskrit) 115 

Rat  and  the  Elephant,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French)  294 


INDEX  OF  TITLES  389 

PAGE 

Rat  and  the  Oyster,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  290 
Rat  and  the  Toad,  The.  (African)  .  .  .185 
Rat-catcher  and  Cats,  The.  Gay  (English)  .  355 

Rats  and  the  Cheese,  The.  Anonymous  (English)  375 
Raven,  The.  Cowper  (English)  .  .  .364 

Rope  Dancer  and  His  Pupil,  The.     Yriarte  (Spanish)     340 

Sagacious  Snake,  The.  Bidpai  (Indian)  .  .  70 
Satyr  and  the  Traveller,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  38 
Shepherd  and  His  Dog,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  272 
Shepherd  and  the  Lion,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  323 
Shepherd's  Dog  and  the  Wolf,  The.  Gay.  (English)  353 
Sick  Stag,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  .  .  .319 
Snake  and  the  Sparrows,  The.  Bidpai  (Indian)  .  65 
Sparrows  and  the  Falcon,  The.  Bidpai  (Indian)  83 
Spectacles,  The.  ^Esop  (Greefc)  ....  60 
Spider  and  the  Bee,  The.  Krilof  (Russian)  .  235 

Squirrel  and  the  Horse,  The.  Yriarte  (Spanish)  .  341 
Sta0  and  the  Vine,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  .  330 
Stork  and  the  Toad,  The.  (African)  .  .  .181 
Sunling,  The.  Raju  (Indian)  .  .  .  .135 
Swallow  and  Other  Birds,  The.  ^Esop  (Greek)  .  12 
an  and  the  Cook,  The.  La  Fontaine  (French)  .  268 
Swan  and  the  Linnet,  The.  Yriarte  (Spanish)  .  346 
Sword-blade,  The.  Krilof  (Russian)  .  .  .228 

Tail  of  the  Serpent,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)  .  .  42 

Tea  and  the  Sage,  The.     Yriarte  (Spanish)  .  .  345 

Tiger  and  the  Giraffe,  The.     Raju  (Indian)  .  .  144 

Tiger  and  the  Shadow,  The.     (Malayan)  .  .  159 


390  INDEX  OF  TITLES 

Tiger  Gets  His  Deserts,    The.     (Malayan) . 

Tiger,  the  Fox,  and  the  Hunters,  The.  Raju 
(Indian)  ....... 

Tinsel   and    Lightning.     Raju  (Indian) 

Traveller  and  the  Tiger,  The.  Hitopadesa  (San- 
skrit)   

Travellers  and  the  Bear,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek) 

Trishka's    Caftan.     Krilof  (Russian) 

Tune  that  Makes  the  Tiger  Drowsy,  The  (Malayan) 

Two  Mules,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French) 

Two  Rats,  the  Fox,  and  the  Egg,  The.  La  Fontaine 
(French) .*  •  ... 

Two  Travellers,  The.     ^sop  (Greek)      . 

Two  Travellers  and  the  Oyster,  The.  .Esop 
(Greek)  

Wagtail  and  the  Jackal,  The.  (Moorish) 

Weasel  in  the  Granary,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French) 

What    Employment    Our  Lord    Gave    to    Insects 

(African) 

Wolf  and  Its  Cub,  The.     Krilof  (Russian)     . 
Wolf  and  the  Cat.  The.     Krilof  (Russian)     . 
Wolf  and  the  Crane,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)      . 
Wolf  and  the  Fox,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French) 
Wolf  and  the  Lamb,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek)      . 
Wolf  and  the  Lamb,  The.     ^sop  (Greek) 
Wolf  and  the  Lean  Fog,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French) 
Wolf  and  the  Mastiff,  The.     vEsop  (Greek)    . 
Wolf  and  the  Sheep,  The.     ^Esop  (Greek) 
Wolf  in  Sheep's  Clothing,  The.     ^sop  (Greek) 


INDEX  OF  TITLES  391 

PAGE 

Wolf,  the  Goat,  and  the  Kid,  The.     La  Fontaine 

(French)        .......  287 

Wolf  Turned  Shepherd,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French)  279 

Woodman  and  Mercury,  The.     La  Fontaine  (French)  302 
Woods    and    the    Woodman,    The.     La  Fontaine 

(French}        .......  322 

Wren,  The.     (Moorish)        .         .         .         .         .172 


Young  Mouse,  the  Cock,  and  the  Cat,  The. 

(Greek)          .......       40 

Young  Tiger,  The.    Bidpai  (Indian)     ...       77 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


ID-tilti 

,*    -JN2219! 

JUNO 


07 


. 
RECEIVE 

AU6  1  2  2U«0 

SEL/GG  LIBRA? 


r 


Form  L9-40m-7,'56(C790s4)444 


3302  Talking  beasts 


PS 
3302 


